War veteran wins eye care battle
Updated on 27 February 2008
A Second World War pilot has won his battle for NHS treatment for his failing eyesight - and pledged to carry on the fight for other people.
Jack Tagg, 88, who flew Wellington bombers, put his house on the market to fund thousands of pounds-worth of treatment because his local health trust said he did not meet the criteria for NHS treatment.
Mr Tagg, from Torquay, Devon, is suffering from age-related wet macular degeneration in his right eye, which attacks central vision, leaving only peripheral vision.
Last week he went to Downing Street to present around £1,000-worth of donated cheques to Gordon Brown - which he wanted the Prime Minister to cash to put towards his treatment costs.
A spokesman for Torbay Care Trust said they would not expect to provide the treatment for people whose residual sight exceeded the set criteria.
But Mr Tagg said the Trust had now offered to pay for his treatment.
"I was told there had been a technical error because I had not been told about the appeals procedure," he said.
"I am delighted my campaign has succeeded, but I am proceeding to campaign on behalf of others who have not been so fortunate," he said.
Mr Tagg has already paid more than £700 for one treatment injection from his own funds, and was prepared to sell his home to fund another dozen.
He said he expects the NHS-funded treatment to start in the next week, adding that it was a "sad business" that he had to travel to London to campaign for it. He said he wanted people to continue to send £5 cheques to his campaign - made payable to Gordon Brown - to help make the treatment universal.
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