THE family of a cancer patient who has twice been denied a drug that could prolong her life has urged Health Secretary Alan Johnson to intervene.

Grandmother Jean Murphy, 62, has kidney cancer and has been given 18 months to two years to live. An expert has said that the drug Sutent could shrink her tumour and would probably extend her life by six months.

A judge last week ordered an NHS panel to reconsider its decision to deny her the drug. It is rarely prescribed in Greater Manchester, despite being routinely available in Cheshire and Liverpool.

Mr Justice Burnett found Salford Primary Care Trust had not considered Mrs Murphy's circumstances.

But a panel has decided for a second time that Mrs Murphy's circumstances were not exceptional and chose again not to pay for the drug. In 2006/07, the PCT had a surplus of £2.9m . . . and its chief executive, Mike Burrows, earns £125,000 a year. The treatment for Mrs Murphy would cost £3,500 a month.

Salford MP and Communities Minister Hazel Blears has written to Mr Johnson after an approach by Mrs Murphy and her family, who are constituents. Mrs Murphy's daughter, Cathy Ostasz, said: "Ms Blears said she had written to Mr Johnson and she would let me know when he replied.

"I asked her if she could get Alan Johnson to intervene, but she said he couldn't tell the PCT what to do. But we are determined to keep battling for this drug for my mother."

Cathy wrote to Mr Johnson: "Jean Murphy has been sentenced to death because Labour don't care. Without the treatment, Jean Murphy will die."

Cathy said: "I know the letter is quite blunt, but it needed to be blunt."

Mrs Murphy's consultant at Christie Hospital, Prof Robert Hawkins, has described her as an `ideal patient' for Sutent. She is the main carer for her husband, Michael.

The family, represented by Manchester-based solicitors Linder Myers, will appeal against the PCT decision next week and are calling for the hearing to be public.