STAFFORDSHIRE Moorlands MP Charlotte Atkins is in an authoritative position to form an opinion on her constituent's plight.

The Health Select Committee member is experienced in the workings of the system and said that Nice does a difficult job well.

Ms Atkins argued that it was right for decisions to be made locally by PCTs – but has written to North Staffordshire PCT urging the trust to review Kay's "special" case.

She has pointed out that Kay is different to many others applying for Sutent as the drug could be a way of saving her life – rather than simply extending it for a matter of months as in other cases.

Ms Atkins said: "Sutent has already been found not to be a drug that should be funded by the NHS but that is not to say that Kay should not be considered as a special case.

"I've written to the PCT to consider her because in her particular situation it is not just to prolong her life but to make it so that an operation can take place.

"Sadly it is not the Prime Minister that makes the decision, it is the PCT – and that is how it should be.

"They have to decide how they are going to use their resources and it is right these decisions are made locally.

"Ironically, it may all come to me on the Health Select Committee because petitions can come to us and we can decide if we wish to take action in any way.

"We have done an inquiry into Nice and by-and-large feel it to be a very worthy organisation which is admired worldwide for what it does with difficult decisions to be made about resources."