SCOTLAND'S new First Minister is to meet with a Glasgow cancer patient after her "postcode lottery" drug ordeal was highlighted by the Evening Times.

During her first First Minster's Questions, Nicola Sturgeon was challenged to explain why some Scottish patients are being denied life- extending treatment because of where they live.

Labour's Jackie Baillie highlighted our story about Jean MacDonald, 55, from Carmyle, who was forced to pay more than £38,000 privately for drugs that have always been available to patients in Edinburgh.

The drug Bevacizumab (Avastin), although not approved by the Scottish Medicine Consortium (SMC), has been shown to increase survival rates in advanced forms of ovarian cancer.

The Scottish Government announced at the start of this year that Scotland's systems for approving and accessing new medicines for use in the NHS would see a "step change".

A new peer-approved clinical opinion system to tackle regional variation was due to be introduced in May.

But Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said the changes had been delayed and that the Government had failed to ensure cancer patients, such as Jean, got equal access to drug treatment.

She said: "I'm sure the First Minister would agree with me that just isn't right. Can the First Minister tell me when she will end the postcode lottery for cancer patients across Scotland that her Health Secretary promised to happen by May?"

Ms Sturgeon, who was earlier sworn in as Scotland's First Minister in front of judges at Edinburgh's Court of Session, said she wanted an end to postcode lotteries in all healthcare and agreed to meet with Ms MacDonald to discuss her case.

She said: "I am familiar with the case she raises... I would be happy personally to speak to the individual in question, both to hear her experiences, which is the most important thing, but also to share with her the work that the Government is doing and intends to do in the future to improve the situation."

The First Minister said work was under way to improve decision-making at the SMC, which looks at the use of drugs in the NHS and health boards.

She said: "When I was Health Secretary... as anyone who has been Health Secretary knows, you deal with some heart-wrenching issues.

"Access to drugs was probably the most heart-wrenching issue I ever dealt with. When you talk about losing sleep over issues, this one falls into that category.

"There will always be difficult decisions here, and it will not be possible under any circumstances to have a position where every single drug is always approved for use, but what I want to ensure is that we have confidence in the decision-making process."

Ms Macdonald was recommended for the drug by her consultant, Professor Iain McNeish at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. When the drug was refused by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, he lodged a number of appeals on her behalf but they were all rejected.

Patients in Glasgow now have access to the treatment on the NHS because of additional funding granted by the Scottish Government to improve access to new medicines. The health board has also agreed to "absorb" the remaining £4000 for Jean's treatment.

But Glasgow Labour councillor Anne Simpson believes Ms MacDonald should be reimbursed for the full cost of the treatment.

The First Minister was also challenged by Conservative leader Ruth Davidson about the"absurd" rule which can see some inmates get out of prison after serving half the term imposed on them.

Ms Davidson spoke out in light of the case of rape victim Erin O'Neill, 25, who waived her right to anonymity to tell her story.

caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk