NHS ‘failing in its duty’ on funding of tablets

PILLS costing just 34p that could save the lives of 1,150 breast cancer patients a year are “sitting on the shelf” due to lack of NHS guidance.

The drugs can cut the chance of dying from the disease by 18% for those over 50 diagnosed with primary breast cancer.

But Freedom of Information data shows only 42 out of 208 Clinical Commissioning Groups in England fund the bisphosphonates, which prevent breast cancer spreading.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, of charity Breast Cancer Now, blames a lack of NHS direction.

She added: “That this is not being taken is nothing short of a dereliction of duty.”

The Mirror revealed a year ago that there was confusion over which body funds the pills.