THE parents of cancer-stricken John Mark Riding from Redruth, have made a scathing attack on the National Health Service this week, saying it has "destroyed" them.

John and Jackie claim their five-year-old son, who has a diffused stem brain tumour, has been classified as a terminally-ill patient.

As a result John Mark was not getting the help he needed, they said at a specially arranged press conference at the Penventon Park Hotel, Redruth.

John Mark's father remains bitter towards the NHS. "Failed us? They have destroyed us," he told the Packet. "We think it is about time the doctors started listening to us, the parents."

Yesterday the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro defended the treatment John Mark has received.

Laura Mason, a spokeswoman for the RCH, said: "We are very sorry that the family of John Mark Riding feel that they are not getting the support they want.

"He is being fully supported by a full team of doctors, nurses and therapists which has included home visits.

"Each patient is assessed week by week and their care is reviewed. John Mark is being offered the treatment the professionals feel he can cope with.

"He is quite a poorly child and we are doing everything we feel he can manage. He is being constantly assessed and reviewed."

But Jackie insisted: "We treat him as a normal child and he needs intensive rehabilitation."

The family was told 12 months ago that John Mark had only a few weeks to live. John and Jackie took him round the world to find doctors who would treat him after claiming to have had little success in the UK through the NHS. Hundreds of people in the Redruth area supported a fund-raising appeal to pay for the trips.

One year on, and John Mark has had 90 per cent of the brain tumour removed in a privately-funded operation in Australia. He started on his fifth course of chemotherapy on Monday this week. Yesterday he was in Bristol for a scan and is due to be assessed at a private clinic in London today for ongoing treatment.

Danny Vose, co-ordinator for the continuing appeal on behalf of John Mark, said: "We have gone through the proper channels but John Mark is still being treated as a terminally ill child.

"If John Mark had been in a road accident, he would be having intensive rehabilitation. Why won't they (NHS) rehabilitate John?"

The appeal to raise money for John Mark continues. Donations can be made to the John Mark Riding Appeal via the Penventon Park Hotel in Redruth on 01209 203000.