CANCER patient Tony Howells’ plea for a drug that may prolong his life has been turned down for the third time.

Herefordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) has again said no to a request from his consultant that the NHS pay the £15, 000 for a three-month trial of Temsirolimus In a statement the PCT said an independent appeal panel found no grounds to set aside earlier decisions not to provide the drug to the 52-year-old from Belmont, Hereford. But Mr Howells should start treatment this week with the drug, thanks to colleagues and employers from Bulmers. They gave him the cash from their voluntary community fund when they read of his plight in the Hereford Times.

He was diagnosed with kidney cancer last September and told recently he had only months to live. He was advised Temsirolimus could extend this.

He said: “I am desperate for this drug as I am only 52 and have four children and two grandchildren with whom I want to spend as much time as possible.”

His daughter Nicola McGarvie said the family was desperately disappointed at the NHS decision. The family still believe the PCT’s decision is down to money and that the outcome may have been different in another area.

But Mr Howells and his family were deeply grateful to his colleagues at Bulmers for giving him the money. Mrs McGarvie said her father was tired and had had enough. He started treatment at Cheltenham on Monday.

“If the results are good after three months we will again appeal to the PCT for the NHS to pay to continue the treatment,” she said.

In its statement, the PCT said the latest panel had taken account of the position on whether the drug was classed as safe, proven and effective by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

“The panel deliberated on the overall effectiveness of Temsirolimus and the balance of harm and benefit from its use, based on current knowledge,” it said.

After assessing all the evidence the panel found no grounds to set aside previous decisions.

Such decisions were always difficult and the panel recognised and sympathised with the need for the patient and his family to get the best possible care, based on consideration of harm and benefit, it said.