CANCER patients who have been denied access to new drugs have welcomed news that the Government is to fully fund the £200m Cancer Drug Fund.

Some cancer charities had expressed concern whether the Government would honour the Conservative pre-election commitment to set up the £200m fund.

But Health Secretary Andrew Lansley last night confirmed the fund, which will help cancer patients get access to cancer drugs their doctors recommend for them, would be set up in April.

The Conservatives made the pledge after widespread publicity about cancer patients being denied access to new cancer drugs, often available in Europe and the US, but turned down for NHS use because of cost concerns.

The Northern Echo has highlighted many similar cases in recent years.

The Cancer Drug Fund will be used to allow specialists to bypass any ban imposed by the drugs vetting agency Nice (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) and prescribe cancer drugs for their patients if they believe the treatment will extend life or improve quality of life.

Since October 1, an interim sum of £50m was made available across England.

In the North-East, that interim money was used to make available to patients a number of previously restricted cancer drugs.

One patient to benefit from the funding was John Pagella, 76, from Bolam, County Durham.

Mr Pagella’s consultant unsuccessfully applied to NHS County Durham and Darlington earlier this year for funding which would allow him to prescribe an expensive new drug called azacitidine to treat a rare form of bone marrow cancer known as myelodysplastic syndromes.

But after the interim Cancer Drug Fund was set up earlier this month, Mr Pagella’s consultant was given the green light to go ahead with treatment.

Last night, Mr Pagella said: “That is excellent news. It is a very good start and shows a clear declaration of intent.”

Graeme Johnstone, 55, from Middleton St George, near Darlington, was turned down for another new cancer drug earlier this year and is currently on a different trial drug for advanced kidney cancer.

He said: “This is very encouraging news.”