MPs back Dementia Drugs Campaign

Kevan Jones MP	Roberta Blackman-Woods MP

Both Kevan Jones MP for North Durham, including Chester-le-Street, and Roberta Blackman-Woods MP for Durham City have signed the Early Day Motion in the House of Commons which calls for effective drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease to be available on the NHS.

Roberta has also tabled two questions on the matter for the Health Secretary.

The Full Early Day Motion reads:

EDM 662
ALZHEIMER'S AND NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE DECISION
21.07.2005
Horwood, Martin
That this House expresses its deep concern that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraisal committee has rejected the responses to the consultation on Alzheimer's drugs and has not yet approved prescription of these drugs on the NHS; believes that these drugs are both clinically and cost effective; notes that NICE agrees that the drugs provide clinical benefits; further notes that the average cost of treatment is £2.50 per day; further notes that thousands of people with dementia and their carers have made representations to NICE that these drugs improve quality of life; further notes that an alliance of leading patient and professional organisations in dementia care and research has been launched to campaign for fair access to drug treatments for people with dementia on the NHS; agrees with the Action on Alzheimer's Drugs Alliance that effective drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease should be available on the NHS; fears that NICE has failed to consider the important concerns raised by the Department of Health about its draft guidance; and calls upon the Government to ensure that these concerns are addressed.

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