A Retford woman recovering from a second stem cell transplant funded by the community, is supporting a new campaign seeking a review on NHS policy for such transplants.

Faith Hinitt, 28, was forced to turn to the community for help to finance her second transplant, when the NHS was unable to provide funding for it.

Faith was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2023 but her cancer returned following an initial stem cell transplant.

The response to her appeal was phenomenal, with hundreds of thousands of pounds raised within a weekend, to allow the leisure centre manager's potentially life-saving operation to go ahead.

Faith Hinitt of Retford was able to celebrate her 28th birthday at home last week, following a successful second stem cell transplant that was funded by the community.

placeholder image — Faith Hinitt of Retford was able to celebrate her 28th birthday at home last week, following a successful second stem cell transplant that was funded by the community.

Even when she was about to undergo her recent treatment there was more emotional distress for Faith, as the financial bar was raised due to after care costs and once again, the community stepped up to help the stricken young woman.

Faith is currently doing well at home, following the transplant, and has just celebrated her 28th birthday with her family.

She is strongly supporting a campaign launched by Charities Anthony Nolan, DKMS UK and Leukaemia UK, calling on NHS England to update their policy, so that no patient is denied a potentially lifesaving stem cell transplant because they can’t afford it.

A second stem cell transplant can offer patients with blood cancer another chance at survival if their disease returns.

Faith Hinitt of Retford, while undergoing treatment in hospital.

However, under NHS England's current policy, if a patient relapses less than 12 months after their first stem cell transplant, they will not be allowed a second one.

This leaves some patients with no options other than palliative care or funding their own treatment.

The charities have launched a petition for urgent change, saying this policy no longer reflects advances in transplantation and modern clinical practice.

Faith said: "I'm excited if something good can come out of the bad experience I’ve been through, that caused intense emotional stress. It will be a massive positive if this action prevents anyone else going through that trauma.

"We need as many people to sign the petition as possible. I thought I would have to sell my house to finance my transplant. I'm still stunned by how the community got behind me and supported me, and will always be so grateful.”

She continued: “Primarily the campaign seeks for cases to be considered on an individual basis. I was an otherwise healthy, non-smoking 27-year old but could not be given the chance of a second transplant by the NHS. The approach to this needs to change."

The charities say evidence shows that decisions around a second stem cell transplant should consider individual circumstances, rather than a fixed 12 month cut off.

This approach is already used in other European countries, including Germany.

Other patients, like Faith, have had to rely on public fundraising.

Faith added:“During this time, I have felt like a statistic. This is why I think it’s so important that the policy is reviewed to become a more flexible model that takes into account the individual’s situation - to make you feel like a person with a chance at lifesaving treatment.”

Yasmin Sheikh, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Anthony Nolan, said: “Transplant medicine has moved forward significantly in recent years, yet the current policy is outdated and unfair.

“Nearly a decade ago, Anthony Nolan successfully campaigned to stop NHS England withdrawing access to second stem cell transplants altogether.

"That campaign secured an important policy change, but medicine has not stood still. Now NHS England must update its policy so clinicians can make decisions based on the latest evidence and what is right for each patient.”

Michael Gallagher, policy and public affairs manager at DKMS UK, said: “This campaign is about ending a blanket rule that can shut the door on a patient’s last realistic chance of survival.

"Some patients are ruled out before their individual circumstances are considered, simply because their disease returned before the 12-month mark. Timing of relapse matters, but it should inform a clinical decision, not dictate it.

“We are not calling for automatic access to a second transplant, but for an end to automatic exclusion.

"NHS England should replace this outdated cut-off with a transparent, risk-stratified process based on evidence, clinical need, and expert judgement, not a rigid deadline or a family’s ability to pay.”

Georgia Papacleovoulou, head of policy and advocacy at Leukaemia UK, said: “For patients with relapsed blood cancer, a second stem cell transplant can be their only chance of survival.

"Treatment decisions should be based on clinical need, and no patient should have to turn to private healthcare or fundraising for a life-saving treatment.”

As part of the campaign, the charities have launched a joint petition calling on NHS England to review and update its policy. To sign the petition, visit: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/777325