MP backs Dementia Drugs Campaign

Roberta signs the petition

City of Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods has backed the "Don't Stop Dementia Drugs" Campaign.

The Durham and Chester-le-Street branch collected signatures for the Campaign run by the Northern Echo and backed by the Alzheimer's Society in Durham Market Place on Friday 10 November, and Roberta was there, complete with Alzheimer's Society sash.

Barry Nelson of the Northern Echo (centre) receives the petition vouchers, Left to right, Branch Committee member Janice Clasper, Branch Manager Jennifer Brown, Barry Nelson, Committee member Dr Sandra Duggan, Branch Care Services Manager Debbie Keenan and Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods MP.

Hundreds of signatures were collected on the day and Barry Nelson of the Northern Echo was also there and was presented with a box of petition vouchers and many signature sheets.

Of the NICE decision not to allow these drugs for sufferers in the early stages of dementia, Roberta said,

"The NICE ruling is just plain wrong. It failed to take into account the wider implications of quality of life of sufferers and their carers and the saving to the public purse by delaying or even avoiding the need for residential care."

Roberta, who has personal experience of the effects of dementia in her family, said she would raise the matter directly with the Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt.


Roberta talks with Jennifer Brown		Lined up to spell out the message, Janice Clasper, Jennifer Brown, Dr Sandra Duggan and Debbie Keenan.

Barry Nelson was very pleased with the event, and praised the "enterprising people" of the branch for their initiative in copying and distributing vouchers from the Northern Echo.

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