Eastleigh chest patients getting second class care, says Huhne

5.58.14pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 9th May 2006

People with chronic chest problems have been denied access to a community matron

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne has taken up the case of hundreds of Eastleigh patients with chest problems who are getting second class care by comparison with other patients in Hampshire.

Mr Huhne has written to John Richards, the chief executive of the Eastleigh and Test Valley South primary care trust, to point out that people with chronic chest problems have been denied access to a community matron unlike patients elsewhere in Hampshire.

Mr Huhne says that Eastleigh probably suffers a disproportionately high amount of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis because many residents are employed in industry and also smoke.

Mr Huhne said: "My information is that my constituents in Eastleigh suffer more from chest conditions than others in the county, but are being denied a service provided elsewhere which can prove essential in maintaining improvement and ensuring rehabilitation.

"In addition, the primary care trust has refused to fund treatment for asbestos-related conditions such as Mesothelioma with a new drug called Permetrexen, and has also suggested the Royal Hampshire County hospital in Winchester should not make CPAP machines available, even though these help with easy breathing during sleep.

"The primary care trust has told consultants in Winchester that even lending the machines to patients is bad, as it creates expectations that they will be able to have them in future. By contrast, other trusts are funding these machines.

"This second-class care is affecting at least 200 Eastleigh patients a year, and I am determined that local residents should not be in any way disadvantaged compared with other people living in Hampshire" said Mr Huhne.