Conservative Shadow Health Minister Mark Simmonds MP joined Nigel Adams, last week for a meeting at York Hospital with the York & District Pain Management Support Group.

Nigel is campaigning against a decision by North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust to no longer routinely fund vital spinal injections which provide relief for chronic back pain sufferers.

Mr Simmonds said he was sympathetic with the group’s plight:

“Clearly continuous back pain is unsatisfactory, and it would appear that management is overriding clinical priorities. Our proposals are to get GPs to lead commissioning as they best understand the needs of their patients.

“An incoming Conservative government would make the health services catered around the patients and we would change the focus which is currently meeting centrally delivered targets, to one which is focused on maximising patient outcomes.”

Nigel Adams said: “I am delighted at the interest and support Mr Simmonds showed towards the campaign. The withdrawal of these injections is having a huge impact on people’s quality of life and I urge the PCT to reconsider its decision.

“The public is outraged at this and voiced their concerns recently at a packed public meeting attended by 150 people. Mark Simmonds and I will do all we can to ensure this gets back on the agenda, and to help improve the quality of lives for suffers as well as their carers and family.

“The PCT’s decision to implement this measure following a recommendation by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is flawed.  It is yet another example of postcode lottery in the health service, as people living in East and West Yorkshire can have these injections, while it is being denied to those in York and North Yorkshire. This is totally unfair and unacceptable.”