A widow is calling for the law to change to end a postcode lottery of care for brain cancer patients. Ellie James’ husband Owain died in 2024 from a type of brain tumour known as a glioblastoma. His death followed difficulties accessing personalised treatment because most of his tumour, removed during brain surgery, was not frozen.

Mrs James is heading a campaign calling for patients to have the right to have their tissue frozen and stored after surgery, enabling access to personalised treatments and genetic tests. The 36-year-old, from Caerphilly in south Wales, said this is done “inconsistently” across the NHS, creating a postcode lottery of care.

She is calling for a change in the law, dubbed Owain’s Law, which would let patients give consent about what happens to their tissue. Mrs James said she believes her husband would still be alive had the law been in place when he was receiving treatment.

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