| DISAPPOINTMENT FOR CARERS |
| Wednesday, 25 October 2006 | |
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John Pugh has with colleagues from other parties tabled a Commons motion deploring the refusal by the body (the National Institute for Clinical Excellence) that approves NHS drugs to restrict access to NHS drug treatments for those in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The MP who lobbied ministers face to face on behalf of the Alzheimer's Society said that he was disappointed that Nice had ignored the pleas not only of sufferers' families but also from the Royal Colleges of Nursing and of Psychiatry. John said: "NICE have to consider value for money of treatments but their assessment is far to narrow. They do not look on the added strain for carers and the costs of sedative alternatives which are not cheap and act just a like a chemical cosh. The new drugs like Aricept on the other hand mitigate the effects of Alzheimer's even in the early stages but leave the patient alert. For a mere £2.50 a day that’s more than worth it. " THE MOTION TABLED - in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Society National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) decision on Alzheimer's drugs That this House is deeply concerned that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has rejected official appeals by organisations including the Alzheimer's Society, Royal College of Nursing, Age Concern and the Royal College of Psychiatrists against NICE's decision to restrict access to NHS drug treatments to people in the moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease; notes that thousands of people with dementia, their carers, doctors and nurses have made representations to NICE that these drugs improve quality of life at a cost of £2.50 per day per person; is concerned that NICE is proposing that from 22 November 2006 clinicians should not prescribe effective drug treatments on the NHS to people in the early and late stages of Alzheimer's disease; is concerned NICE recommends using the MMSE memory test to govern access to the drugs; believes that NICE's decision ignores the benefits the drugs bring to carers of people with Alzheimer's disease; fears that the decision will lead to an increase in NHS prescribing of dangerous sedative drugs; is concerned that NICE does not have an independent appeal process; notes that NICE's appraisal of drugs for Alzheimer's disease has concluded; believes that the Department of Health now has a duty to ensure that doctors can continue to be able to prescribe Alzheimer's drug treatments which provide clinical benefit; and urges the Secretary of State for Health to issue guidance to the NHS which makes clear that funding must be provided to allow clinicians flexibility to prescribe as appropriate. |