Don fights for Alzheimer's sufferers

2.57.00pm GMT Mon 21st Mar 2005

Bath's MP, Don Foster, is campaigning to stop the National Institute Clinical Excellence (NICE) proposals to deny effective Alzheimer's medication to new NHS patients

Commenting on NICE's recent proposals, Don Foster MP stated:

"It's extremely disappointing that bureaucratic cost-efficiency calculations are going to deny hundreds of thousands of Alzheimer's suffers the only proven treatment for their disease.

"It is estimated that there may be as many as 800 Alzheimer's sufferers in the Bath constituency, and if this decision stands, not only will suffers be affected, but also their relatives and carers who must deal with the disastrous effects of this horrible illness.

"The few pounds a day the NHS will save on medication, will cost suffers' and their families immeasurable amounts of pain.

"It's impossible to put a price on the gains in quality of life this medication provides suffers.

"As an independent body, NICE has the final say on the drugs, but it is imperative that the government exercise its power during the consultation phase to protect one of the most vulnerable patient groups in UK."

"I have written to the Secretary of State for Health, John Reid MP, and the Chief Executive of NICE to press for these proposals to be dropped."