A petition calling on the NHS to reverse its decision to put a lifesaving cancer treatment on hold has reached 10,000 signatures in less than a week.

Sandra Redshaw, 51, is one of the patients who have been denied a cell transplant as the NHS considers paying for a new HIV drug.

She said: “The petition topping 10,000 was a very heartwarming and emotional moment and I burst into tears as it ticked over to that magic number.”

She was told her treatment would be put on hold two weeks before it was due to take place after the High Court ruled the NHS should consider funding the preventative PrEP HIV drug.

The petition was set up on Tuesday, September 27 and Government will have to respond to it since it has now reached more than 10,000 signatures.

Sandra said: “It means that Parliament will have to take notice and comment on the issue, but how long this will take is anyone's guess.

“It's fantastic and the support we’ve had to get there has been amazing, very emotional and totally overwhelming.”

Sandra is a mother of three living in Hartley and her condition, a type of lymphoma called Waldemstrom’s macroglobulinaemia, affects about 4,000 people in the UK.

She was diagnosed with the rare form of blood cancer 15 years ago while she was pregnant with her middle child.

She said the treatment costs about £25,000 and involves her being given high doses of chemotherapy.

She also hopes the issue will be bought up on October 11 when Parliament will discuss health issues and her MP Gareth Johnson has promised to try to mention it.

“There isn't anyone I have spoken who doesn't think this is totally wrong,” she said.