A MAN whose lifesaving cancer treatment is being denied to him on the NHS because of "rigid" red tape has had his latest appeal for funding turned down.
The "devastating" news came in a letter on Tuesday as his MP won a promise of a meeting with new health secretary Steve Barclay to discuss Elliott Simpson's case.
The Blackburn 26-year-old, whose mother Sonia Littler lives in Eldercott Grove in Deane, is suffering from worsening skin cancer but is barred from receiving the second set of drugs be needs to combat its spread by "rigid rules" governing their use.
To make matters worse for Elliott if he had not also suffered from Crohn’s disease he would have got both courses of treatment automatically in 2020.
His cancer specialists appealed the refusal of free NHS treatment but yesterday he was informed the individual treatment request had been rejected again.
Elliott was diagnosed in December 2020 with the skin cancer metastatic melanoma after noticing a mole on the back of his skull.
Now his family are trying to raise £180,000 for private treatment at Manchester's Christie Hospital cancer centre and fear they may have to sell his father Hugh's house in Green Park Close, Mill Hill.
Elliott said: "This is devastating news. Obviously I am very disappointed.
"It is not fair or right that we should have to sell my father's house to pay for the treatment.
"We are stepping up fundraising for private treatment which has now gone up from £120,000 to £180,000.
"So far we have raised £30,000 through a Go Fund me page and events.
"I am pleased Kate has raised it again at Westminster and we hope to accompany her to meet Mr Barclay."
During a health question in the House of Commons, Blackburn MP Kate Hollern, who had previously raised his case with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, asked Mr Barclay: "I wrote to your immediate predecessor on May 16 about the case of Elliott Simpson. Sadly, I have not had a response.
"Elliott was misdiagnosed with a water wart in a telephone consultation with a GP. When Elliott finally got to see someone face-to-face, he had late-stage skin cancer.
"National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines do not currently allow him to receive the necessary life-saving treatment.
"Will the you meet me and Elliott’s family to discuss what can be done to get this young man the treatment that he desperately needs?"
Mr Barclay replied: "I am very sorry to hear of the circumstances that you set out. I am happy to look at the case, Of course I am happy to meet you in due course."
Mrs Hollern said after the exchange: "Elliott's case is a very sad story.
"There is still a chance to get him the lifesaving treatment he desperately needs. I hope to take up the health secretary on his offer to meet with me to discuss what can be done to help Elliott."
The family are holding a football match to raise cash at the Feniscowles and Pleasington War Memorial Recreation Ground on Sunday and a golf tournament at Pleasington Golf Club on August 8.
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