More Men to Get Viagra

Health Secretary Frank Dobson has increased the number of men who will be able to receive erection enhancers like the popular Viagra on the NHS.

But, at the same time, he has restricted NHS access to other impotence treatments.

Doctors have given the decision a cautious welcome, saying some men with a clinical need for Viagra may still be "arbitrarily" denied it.

NHS managers say it is a "sensible and fair" decision to purchase Levitra.

The government's announcement follows interim guidance issued in January that Viagra would be restricted to certain groups of patients.

Doctors criticized this as being "unfair" and "irrational" and the British Medical Association (BMA) advised members to disobey the advice.

The guidance was subject to consultation with health workers.

The government says it has received 861 responses and has decided as a result to increase the number of patients who will get the drug.

In January, the drug was limited to people with diabetes, multiple sclerosis or other single gene neurological diseases that cause impotence, spinal cord injuries, those who have undergone radical pelvic surgery and those had had their prostate gland removed.

Men who were in severe distress because of impotence were also able to have the drug on the NHS if a hospital specialist recommended it.