From Hansard, this is the text of the question to the Prime Minister
yesterday (Wednesday 24th October) concerning the health care of Councillor
Tony Lanchester:-

Michael Fabricant: The whole House will be aware of the crippling
effects of rheumatoid arthritis. Some three quarters of a million people
suffer from the disease. May I draw to the attention of the Prime Minister
the plight of my constituent, Councillor Tony Lanchester, who happens to be
the former Labour leader of Lichfield district council, and who suffers from
the disease? He goes to Cannock hospital but cannot be prescribed drugs for
the disease because the health authority will not pay for it. In the next
bed, patients from Sutton Coldfield have their drugs paid for by their
health authority. That state of affairs is repeated in every constituency in
the country. What steps can the Prime Minister take to stop this postcode
prescribing?

The Prime Minister: I greatly sympathise with the hon. Gentleman’s
constituent. Rheumatoid arthritis is a very debilitating condition. Under
the present system, there is postcode prescribing and health authorities may
make different decisions for patients in different parts of the country.
That is precisely why we want to change that system, which we inherited. We
have introduced a new system in which there is independent assessment of
drugs and their effect on people. Then, because of the increased funding, we
are able to ensure that those drugs are available. I hope, therefore, that
the problems of his constituents and others will be dealt with in time.

Michael Fabricant says "The Prime Minister is wrong. This problem arose
when GP Fundholding was abolished by this Labour Government. Although Tony
Blair undoubtedly cares about this problem and recognises how widespread it
has become, it is no good his blaming the previous Government. He has
been in office now for four and half years and the problem which Labour
caused refuses to go away. My question highlights the anguish faced by
sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis in this country. I hope that the South
Staffordshire Health Authority will now provide the drugs that Tony
Lanchester so desperately needs".