A Swindon woman has criticised the lack of groundbreaking new treatments available on the NHS.

The letter writer, who asked to not publish her name or address published, wrote to the Adver to ask what the point of donating to charities is if the research into more effective medicines which this generosity pays for leads to those drugs only being affordable for the wealthy.

After a recent personal experience made this unfairness even clearer, she called for more to be done to change this sad situation so that everyone could benefit from the latest healthcare breakthroughs.

She wrote: "Like tens of thousands of other people, I make charitable donations on a regular basis.

"These include support for Cancer Research UK and Age UK.

"It makes me both sad and angry to find that 'new' drugs, although approved by NICE, are not available on the NHS because of cost.

"I have a dearly loved relative who would benefit from a drug named Enhertu, the only licensed treatment that would slow the spread of their cancer and increase survival.

"If this person lived in Scotland, the drug would be supplied to the NHS, but this is not the case in England, where this drug is available only to those who are wealthy enough to pay for it.

"There seems to be little point in all the fundraising - donations, charity shops, raffle tickets, coffee mornings, sponsored events, etc - if most of the people who are making all these efforts are unable to benefit from the results of the research that they have enabled.

"I don't know what the solution is to this sad situation, but maybe some of your readers could come up with some suggestions."

Enhertu is the first breast cancer treatment NICE has been unable to recommend for six years and breaks a line of 21 positive breast cancer recommendations.

In late July, a NICE spokesperson said the health body was "deeply disappointed" that it was unable to recommend Enhertu for use in the NHS for advanced HER2-low breast cancer due to Daiichi Sankyo and partner company AstraZeneca being unwilling to offer a fair and cost-effective price for the drug.

If you would like to write a letter to the Adver in response to this, or discuss anything else about life in Swindon or the pressing matters of the day, email daniel.angelini@newsquest.co.uk or send submissions by post to Swindon Advertiser, Richmond House, Edison Business Park, Hindle Way, Swindon, SN3 3RB.