Patients to get faster access to key drugs

Thousands of NHS patients will get faster access to life-extending drugs under government measures announced today.

Cancer sufferers and others will also have more power to challenge health trusts over drug-rationing decisions. The proposals, announced by health minister Lord Darzi, were drawn up after the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence was criticised for taking up to two years to reach decisions on what treatments the NHS should fund.

A new system means the appraisal process for referring drugs to Nice will be up to three months quicker in some cases.

Health trusts, which differ widely in whether they will fund treatments not yet approved by Nice, will have to be more open and "robust" over their reasons.

Doctors have warned that plans to share medical records with government departments and private firms could damage patient confidentiality. Eight medical professionals have urged a rethink of the Coroners and Justice Bill, which would allow access to patients' notes without their consent.