A Staffordshire mother battling leukaemia has spoken of her anguish after being denied a second, potentially life-saving stem cell transplant on the NHS due to what she calls an "outdated" rule.
The 'Double Jeopardy' Rule and a Devastating Prognosis
Ruth Wake, 57, from Stone, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in January last year following a routine blood test. After undergoing four cycles of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital in June, she later suffered a relapse.
Under current NHS England policy, patients who relapse within one year of a first transplant are typically not eligible for a second procedure on the health service. This is often referred to as a "double jeopardy" rule.
"I was basically told to continue taking the tablets which keep the cancer at bay but would stop working at some point and to get my affairs in order as the leukaemia could return as early as Christmas," Ruth told BirminghamLive.
A Private Lifeline and a Campaign for Change
Refusing to accept this prognosis, Ruth sought alternatives. Fortunately, she holds private health insurance through her employer. She is now scheduled for a private transplant in January, with her 20-year-old daughter acting as her stem cell donor.
"It would have been so easy to accept the NHS’s decision and give up and ultimately die but the private sector has given me a second chance of life for which I am hugely grateful," she said. However, she emphasised that most people are not in her position and is now campaigning for NHS policy reform.
She argues the policy is based on methodology over twelve years old and fails to consider individual patient fitness or recent medical advances. "It just looks at the facets of the disease and does not assess the person... it does not put the patient first," she stated.
Political and Charitable Backing for a Policy Review
Ruth's case has garnered significant support. Her local MP, Sir Gavin Williamson, presented her situation to the Health Secretary in Parliament, labelling the rules "completely unfair."
He said: "It is deeply disappointing that an outdated policy which was drafted 12 years ago, fails to reflect the advancements in scientific treatments and leaves great uncertainty for Ruth and her family." The Health Secretary has since agreed to review the policy, though a outcome is still awaited.
Charity Leukaemia UK is also backing her campaign. They highlight that nearly 3,100 people in the UK are diagnosed with AML each year, yet survival rates remain among the worst of any cancer type.
An NHS England spokeswoman said: "All decisions around repeat stem cell transplants should be made between patient and clinician and in line with the latest clinical policy, which is kept under review." They encouraged patients with concerns to speak to their clinical team.
The University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, declined to comment, stating it was a matter for NHS England.
