AN ASSEMBLY Member has welcomed a ‘breakthrough’ announcement for life-changing medication.

Jack Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside has previously campaigned alongside the Cystic Fibrosis Trust for medication to be made available for patients.

The recent announcement made by Welsh Government, said that patients in Wales will soon be able to access Orkambi and Symkevi – Cystic Fibrosis medications.

He told the Leader: “This is the news that Cystic Fibrosis patients across Wales have been waiting for.

“I will continue to stand up for patients in Alyn and Deeside and beyond, who deserve access to medicines that allow them to live the best possible life.

“I would like to thank the Cystic Fibrosis Trust for the work they have done to raise this important issue.”

The announcement comes a week after Mr Sargeant asked a topical question in the Assembly Chamber on patients being able to access the life-changing medication.

He used the question to tell the Health Minister that patients in North East Wales could not access the medicine.

He also stated the unfairness that they were being treated on the same wards as English patients who could access the medicines.

Mr Sargeant asked: “I have constituents who are now travelling across the border to Liverpool and Manchester for treatment.

“They will be in the same building as England patients who can access this medicine. Minister, can you assure me that negotiations in the conversations you are having with Vertex are ongoing and are positive so that my constituents and the people of Wales can access these medicines as soon as possible?

“And, finally, Minister, have you also given any consideration to introducing an interim patient access scheme, as was the case in NHS Scotland, while the agreement was being reached on access to these two very important medicines?”

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said he asked for the agreement to be finalised before the end of November to allow the ‘highest priority patients’ to access treatment in December, with all eligible patients being offered treatment from 2020.