LETTER: Access to Alzheimer's drugs

12.00.00am GMT Thu 26th Jan 2006

Andrew Dakers says NICE's proposed restrictions to Alzheimer's drugs are unacceptable

I am writing to express my deep concern about the draft guidance issued by NICE which will hugely restrict access to Alzheimer's drugs to thousands of vulnerable people in the mild and severe stages of Alzheimer's disease because of cost.

NICE's proposed restrictions to Alzheimer's drugs are unacceptable. NICE are recommending that the anticholinesterase drugs (Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl) should only be available for people in the moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease. NICE also recommend withdrawing Ebixa - which can help reduce symptoms such as aggression, delusion and agitation - from the NHS.

I am extremely concerned that NICE draft guidance will not lead to the best care for people with dementia, their carers and families. For example, it is unethical to wait until people are in the moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease before they can be prescribed effective drug treatments.

The model that NICE has used to assess the cost effectiveness of Alzheimer's drugs is seriously flawed. For example, it has failed to capture improvements in quality of life for both the person with dementia and their carer.

I urge readers of the Hounslow Chronicle to write to the Department of Health about this recent NICE draft guidance and express all our desire to see the best possible care for people with dementia and their carers. Treatments for Alzheimer's are something that our local Primary Care Trust should decide on the basis of local priorities in consultation with local medical professionals and the wider community.

Andrew Dakers

Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Brentford & Isleworth

Related Link:

Alzheimer's Society lobby of parliament - 27 June 2006