A drug that can help shrink breast tumours has been rejected for use within NHS Scotland.

Perjeta, which was approved last month by NHS England, was not approved for use by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) in it latest round of decision making.

The watchdog said it could not recommend the drug's approval as it was "concerned about the company's evidence around the long-term survival benefits of the medicine".

Perjeta's manufacturers, Roche, submitted a discounted offer to NHS England last month which was accepted by the watchdog there.

Some 1000 women in England are expected to use the drug before surgery.

A similar discounted offer was made to the SMC but not accepted by the body.

SMC chairman Professor Jonathan Fox: "It is disappointing that the Committee was unable to accept the other medicines considered in November.

"Four of these medicines were considered through our Patient and Clinician Engagement (PACE) process and, while that gives us additional flexibility in our decision-making for medicines for end of life and very rare conditions, we have to consider value for money and take account of the needs of all patients being treated in NHS Scotland, not only those affected by the condition under consideration."

He added: "We know these decisions will be hard for patient groups and clinicians, particularly those who took part in the PACE meetings.

"However, when we considered all the evidence in front of us, it was not strong enough for us to be able to accept these medicines for routine use."

A second cancer drug, Kadcyla, manufactured by Roche is similarly rejected by the SMC despite being available in England through the Cancer Drugs Fund".

The decision to not allow the drug to be used within NHS Scotland was criticised by opposition politicians.

Scottish Conservative public health spokesman Miles Briggs said: "This will be a huge blow to breasts cancer patients and their loved ones across Scotland.

"They will understandably be perplexed and angry as to why people going through the same illness elsewhere in the UK can access this drug, but they cannot.

"When the SNP set out on modifying the drugs approval system, it said it would reduce the chances of things like this happening.

He added: "We are concerned that continual rejection in Scotland, when the opposite decisions are being reached elsewhere, could put pharmaceutical companies off bringing new drugs forward here.

"The impact that would have on patient care is utterly unacceptable."

Scottish Labour Health spokesman Anas Sarwar said: "This looks like yet another unfair decision where a drug that can make a real difference to those living and undergoing treatment with cancer is available in other parts of the UK but not in Scotland.

"These cases are becoming more frequent and it is clear the system isn't working for patients.

"That is why Labour outlined reforms to overhaul the system of providing access to new medicines in Scotland."

He added: "We submitted those proposals to the SNP government but have heard nothing since.

"It's time for the SNP to publish the finding of its independent review into access to drugs in the NHS."

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: "We've made a number of improvements to providing access to new medicines in recent years and there are occasions where SMC approves medicines for routine use in Scotland that are not approved by NICE, but we want to go further. That is why we will be publishing our response to the Montgomery Review very soon.

"It is also vital that pharmaceutical companies bring forward far fairer prices and deliverable discount schemes for new medicines to ensure the opportunity for access is as wide as possible for the people of Scotland."