THE MP for the Cotswolds has attacked the Liberal Democrat Health Minister for blocking a medical bill that “could accelerate the development of new drugs”.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown criticised the Liberal Democrat Health Minister, MP Norman Lamb, for blocking the Medical Innovation Bill.

According to Mr Clifton-Brown, the bill would have made it easier for doctors to try new treatments on patients when other options had been exhausted without the fear of being sued.

He said: “It seems right that following carefully considered clinical trials, whereby terminally ill patients opt in, so that the efficacy and effectiveness of new drugs which have passed their Stage Two test, should be carefully evaluated by expert clinicians in the NHS. This could accelerate the development of new drugs.”

Mr Clifton-Brown began a campaign in 2011 on behalf of constituent Les Halpin to improve patient access to new medicines.

Les Halpin died last year from Motor Neurone Disease, for which there has been no drug development for twenty years.

A Lib Dem spokesman, said: “Liberal Democrats want doctors to be able to innovate to get patients the most effective treatment but this needs to be considered very carefully.

“Patient organisations, legal bodies and royal colleges have all raised serious concerns about the bill, in its current form, as it could put patients at risk.”