A FATHER-OF-FOUR has been forced to travel 250 miles to be given a cancer treatment drug after being refused it on the NHS.

Jeff Hurrell was preparing to take his local NHS trust to the European Court of Human Rights before a London doctor stepped in.

The 57-year-old, of Norton, near Stockton, had been told by North Tees Primary Care Trust that they were not prepared to pay for the £24,000 a year treatment of the drug.

Mr Hurrell has had radical surgery for lung cancer mesothelioma and was recommended the chemotherapy drug Alimta.

Now, Dr Jeremy Steel, of St Bartholomew's Hospital, in London, has come to the rescue.

Mr Hurrell said: "I know I am so lucky to be getting this treatment because Dr Steel only has funding to treat 20 patients a year with Alimta. But this fight is not just about me any more - it's about all the other people who will follow in my footsteps."

The drug is licensed in the UK but not yet approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice). It is prescribed in Scotland, Manchester, Liverpool and London on the NHS.

Dr Steel said: "It was licensed in September last year and the earliest it will be approved is August next year. Alimta can extend people's lives with a good quality of life."

Chris Willis, chief executive of North Tees PCT, said it was felt it was inaproppriate to support Mr Hurrell's request for the drug.

"Alimta is licensed for use in this country but in clinical trials has been used with patients who have not had surgery and where the drug was given, on average, patients live one month longer," he added.

"It is not licensed for patients like Mr Hurrell who have had surgery."