There seems little doubt that chelation is being at least considered by British Health Authorities, individually and jointly, when letters replying to requests for chelation therapy are examined 'between the lines'.
Take for example this excerpt in reply to a request for chelation therapy for case history number four:
The Department [UK National Health Management Executive] has sought to assess the effectiveness of chelation therapy in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, by consulting experts in the relevant field. We have concluded that there is at present [my italic] no evidence that it represents a viable treatment for this condition.
A second example from another patient requesting chelation stated that they were not purchasing it this year but may be considering it in the future.
However, some patients in the UK have been successful in securing their ECR
(extra-contractual referrals) for treatment outside the accepted delineations of the National Health. In 1989 the then Health Minister clearly stated that chelation therapy was available on the National Health. This statement was supported by the existing Health Minister in 1992 with the proviso that a referral was required from a physician sympathetic to the treatment.
Experience has acquainted those who are submitting requests with a subsidiary condition: funds have to be agreed and found as well as permission given. This is the biggest stumbling block to date. But patients from Manchester, Swindon/Marlborough, Lothian, Dorset, Wirral, Hertfordshire, Greenwich/Bexley and Ealing/Hammersmith/Hounslow have been given permission. (NB: Patients who have private insurance are faring no better: in fact, there are more hopeful signs of a breakthrough in the public sector than in the private sector.)