Woman backs call to change NHS England stem cell policy

Under NHS England’s current policy, introduced in 2017, if a patient relapses less than 12 months after their first stem cell transplant, they are not eligible for a second one.

Nationwide charities Anthony Nolan, DKMS UK and Leukaemia UK are launching a joint campaign calling on NHS England to update the policy, which they said means some people are “denied a potentially life-saving stem cell transplant just because they can’t afford it”.

“Transplant medicine has moved forward significantly in recent years, yet the current policy is outdated and unfair, leaving some patients having to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to access a treatment that could give them another chance at life,” Yasmin Sheikh, head of policy and public affairs at Anthony Nolan, said.

“NHS England must update its policy so clinicians can make decisions based on the latest evidence and what is right for each patient.”

In a statement, an NHS spokesperson said: “NHS policy should be guided by the latest clinical evidence, which is exactly why an independent evidence review into the case for a second allogeneic stem cell transplant has been commissioned.

“While that is under way, any patients who have concerns or questions about their treatment options should speak to their local clinical team for support.”