The postcode lottery and mesothelioma treatment

Mesothelioma is one of the diseases that can feature in descriptions of the 'postcode lottery' that many perceive to exist in the UK's National Health Service.

This is because it is a disease whose treatments are often expensive, new and palliative rather than curative. It is easy to see the sequence of decisions that prioritises a cheap drug that eliminates a disease over one that is expensive and 'merely' improves quality of life, but it is a sequence of decisions that could be said to eliminate human elements from the choice.

The term 'postcode lottery' is newspaper shorthand for the ways in which neighbouring medical Primary Care Trusts make different decisions within this choice. A story from 2006 concerning asbestos cancer drug Alimta provides an example of the way different PCTs chose to treat mesothelioma sufferers. Greater Manchester doctors were able to prescribe it for their patients while those in Derbyshire could not. Read more about Alimta here.

Government statements show that this is a situation they are trying to deal with, but the fact that there are several statements show that it continues to be perceived as an issue.

A 2008 statement from the Patients' Association, a UK healthcare charity, said, "We welcome anything that ends the postcode lottery, but some trusts are already struggling and without more cash they could end up being legally held to account for drugs they cannot afford."

Making a claim for mesothelioma compensation
If you are in the unfortunate situation of needing to make a compensation claim for an asbestos-related disease - including asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer - you could find the help you need with YouClaim.

Our advisors are highly knowledgeable, and will discuss the details of your case with great sensitivity and without needing any commitment from you. If you decide to proceed with a claim, we will also provide you with an expert personal injury solicitor to handle your case to its best possible conclusion.

All of our no win, no fee lawyers are drawn from firms governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, a branch of the Law Society, and will work on a basis that makes your compensation claim entirely without charge to you, win or lose. This means your case will be professionally handled and cost free.

We have an excellent success rate, and can ensure that any charges and fees are covered by your opponent or our insurance, never by an asbestos compensation claimant.

Contact us today. Our online claim form is available through this website, as is our echat facility - or, if you prefer to speak to someone directly, call our UK hotline 0800 10 757 95 or request an advisor to call you at a time of your choice. We'll endeavour to help you make the mesothelioma claim you deserve.