A SIX-year old Bidford girl has been given a new lease of life after a health authority decided to fund treatment for a rare disorder.

Lisamarie Goodwin has been receiving enzyme replacement therapy to combat mucopolysaccharidosis 1 (MPS 1) initially as part of a trial sponsored by a drug company.

But despite the beneficial impact of the drug, Lisamarie faced going into decline when South Warwickshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) said they could not continue funding the £125,000-a-year treatment.

Lisemarie's mother Shirley-Anne went into battle with the PCT and last week the panel set up to look at the case decided to go ahead.

Dr Stephen Munday, the director of public health who chaired the panel, said: "This is a complex issue involving a relatively new and very costly treatment for a rare genetic disorder.

"The trust was asked to consider funding the continuing treatment of the patient, who had previously received the therapy as part of a trial designed and sponsored by a drug company.

"We were satisfied the patient has benefited from the treatment received during the trial and decided she should continue to receive it, despite the high costs.

"Clarity is now needed on how long the drug company will continue to fund the treatment, so we are asking them to specify the position in respect of this patient.

"Should it then be necessary, the trust will intervene to ensure the patient continues to receive treatment for the next two years at least.

"The panel was concerned about the stress and anxiety experienced by the family because of uncertainty regarding future availability of the treatment."

The case highlights the problems created by drug companies' trials which, when they end, can leave patients high and dry.