By SARAH HARKER

MS SUFFERERS in Warrington are awaiting the result of an appeal which will decide the future of a vital drug.

For Tracey Gruszewski, aged 29, from Oakwood, whatever the outcome of the decision it is likely to be too late.

When the decision was made to ban the drug Tracey fulfilled the criteria for treatment. Since the ban and the delay in its re-assessment her condition has deteriorated so that she no longer fits that criteria.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence made the controversial decision to withdraw Beta Interferon from prescription earlier this year. An appraisal committee will re-consider the decision in December, and a final decision will probably be made public in January.

Although anyone taking the drug before the decision was made could continue with the treatment, new patients could not receive the drug.

Beta Interferon works by slowing down the progression of the devastating disease which attacks the immune system, and therefore is only used to treat patients at a certain stage of their illness.

The MS Society fears that many people who could already be receiving the drug may now fail to meet the clinical criteria for them because their MS has progressed too far.

Tracey said: "Everyday I used to wake up and think is today the day, the stress of waiting adds to the devastation of the disease. Had I received the drug, who knows, perhaps I could have continued being a productive member of society. Now my condition has deteriorated fast and I have had to give up my job."

Fellow sufferer Terry Maynard, aged 45, from Callands, has been receiving beta interferon for two years and says that the drug has prevented him suffering major relapses.

Terry said: "Because my illness is in the relapsed and remitting stage, the drug works by slowing down the progress of the MS. The drug was withdrawn primarily because NICE decided it wasn't cost effective, but patients should be given the chance to try the drug. If it works they still make a contribution to society by holding down a job, so the cost would even out.

"When NICE withdrew the drug they had looked at the cost instead of the practical benefits to sufferers. Now that the appeal has been lodged they will have to consider the experience of patients."