What’s your view in general about the National Health Service after all this treatment that you’ve had?
I think that it, it needs to be funded in a different way. This is just my personal view. I don’t see how the National Health Service can go on doing what it needs to do out of general taxation. I really think there should be some different way of funding it. And I don’t know how that would work. Possibly something like the French system, although I don’t think that doesn’t seem to be, I mean people always quote it, don’t they? but it does struggle, even so. I think, I really think possibly something like some kind of insurance that people pay, instead of the way it’s done now with the health service being allocated what can be spared at the time out of general taxation. That’s the way it seems to work now, isn’t it?
Have you come to that view because you’ve felt sometimes there was a shortage of staff?
No, I’ve always felt that. I think that as time, as time goes on and more and more wonderful drugs are available, and people are going to live longer and be treated for things for longer, and more and more of them, I just cannot see how the health service can go on with the system of funding that it has and be expected to do what it’s expected to do. I just think it needs a lot more. And I don’t think it can just be, I don’t see how it can work under the present system.
Have you any idea how much Tarceva costs?
Yes, it’s approximately £1600 for a thirty day supply. It is very expensive.
Yes, like many other chemotherapy drugs.
Yes, yes, indeed. And, but the thing with Tarceva is that it’s not a limited period of treatment. For as long as it works, I’ll be taking it. And as long as, well, my, as long as I, as the side effects don’t become unbearable and as long as the treatment is working, I’ll be taking it. So, you know, nobody knows how long that will be.
It’s given you quite good quality of life, hasn’t it?
Yes, it really has. Yes, I’m very grateful for it, very grateful for it, yes.
