Cancer patient denied 'life-saving' heart surgery

Mr Luczynski needs surgery for bowel cancer

A decision not to fund potentially life-saving heart surgery for an elderly bowel cancer patient is "appalling", his surgeon has said.

John Luczynski, 83, of Blackpool, needs a procedure to strengthen his heart before he can have cancer treatment.

But the heart surgery - transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) - is not routinely funded in the north west and his application has been declined.

Primary Care Trust NHS Blackpool said it could not discuss individual cases.

The procedure was pioneered at Lancashire's Cardiac Centre at Blackpool's Victoria Hospital - where Mr Luczynski currently is.

Under the procedure, surgeons replace a faulty aortic valve with a healthy one. It is used for seriously ill patients who are unable to undergo open heart surgery.

Family frustration

A panel from the trust refused Mr Luczynski's request for the treatment - against the wishes of his cardiologist, David Roberts.

The consultant told the BBC that time was running out for his patient. Untreated, his bowel cancer could claim his life within 12 months.

"The surgeons said the prognosis for the bowel cancer is good provided we move it as soon as possible but we've already waited three months," he said.

"When the whole team has agreed after careful scrutiny the patient is suitable I think it's absolutely appalling that a panel of non-experts should turn down patients when we've carefully selected them already."

Mr Luczynski's daughter, Lynne Bentham, said his quality of life was so poor it is like "a prison sentence".

She said: "We're so frustrated. He's 83. He missed Christmas at home because he is here."

A spokeswoman for NHS Blackpool said that due to patient confidentiality she was unable to discuss individual cases, or the reasons why decisions regarding individual patients were taken.

Mr Luczynski does have a right to appeal the panel's decision.