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Grandad told it's too late to save eyesight after family raid savings to help
A FAMILY who clubbed together their savings to prevent their grandad going blind have been given the devastating news: It is too late.
Brian Turner, 74, of Oaks Green Mount, Rastrick, suffers from wet age-related macular degeneration in his left eye.
Doctors have told Brian his eyesight has deteriorated so rapidly in the past three weeks the drugs Avastin would have no benefit.
Daughter Julie Atkinson, 47, son Stuart Turner, 50, and grandchildren Debbie Atkinson, 24, Lisa Youell, 30, Charlie Turner, 16, Danielle Turner, 17, and 14-year-old Miles Turner were all prepared to pay for Avastin injections after a specialist from Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust said funding would be denied.
Grandaughter Debbie said: "It's too late to save the first eye and there is a good chance the injections would have no benefit at such a late stage.
"The doctor also said it would not cost 6,300 but more like 20,000 because he would also need three scans in between injections."
Under current guidelines, patients will receive NHS treatment on their second eye should the condition begin affecting it. But there is no treatment for the first eye.
Debbie said: "The doctor gave my grandad some tests on the good eye and if there is any sign of developing wet macular degeneration, he would treat him within 48 hours on the NHS."
Despite the setback, the family are still campaigning for the NHS to provide Avastin free.
Debbie said: "Although it is too late for my granddad, we feel strongly about the postcode lottery of this funding."
Brian, married to wife Pauline for 52 years, said: "I want the Government to fund this drug for all those people who get this disease. It develops so quickly."
His plight has inspired Debbie and Lisa, both from Huddersfield, to set up an online campaign to get Avastin in the NHS.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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