argued in a report last year, this system "offers the prospect of delivering greater benefits to patients for the same level of expenditure, thereby improving value for money and giving better rewards to companies to invest in the most valuable drugs". At the moment, everyone loses out -- patients don't get new and potentially life saving drugs, the NHS can't innovate and meet the needs of patients, and drug companies don't get the opportunity to introduce their new therapies. Every time a patient dies having been denied a new drug which should be available to them it is a tragedy. The response to this tragedy is, I believe, to show how the NHS can provide for everyone the standard of care which we have a right to expect. Unfortunately the Government's response seems to be one of dither and delay. Health Secretary Alan Johnson seems happy to allow Nice to take the blame, despite the fact that he is ultimately in control of the system. What is the Department of Health for if it is not to ensure that people get rapid access to the new treatments to help them with serious illnesses? The Government should act swiftly now to reform the system before any more people's lives are tragically cut short.