The NHS Confederation, which represents NHS hospitals and health authorities, says that many of its members cannot afford to follow the prescribing guidelines set by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

New treatments for heart attacks, MS and Alzheimer's are just too expensive and there are too many competing demands for limited funds, it has been claimed.

The Office of Fair Trading is being asked by Labour MP Peter Bradley to launch a full-scale investigation into monopolistic practices by pharmaceutical companies said to cost the NHS £50 million per year.