Alzheimer Scotland hopeful for Alzheimer's disease court decision
To: News/Health/ Community editors
Alzheimer Scotland hopeful for Alzheimer's disease court decision
Today sees the commencement of the four day judicial review of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence’s (NICE) decision to deny thousands of patients with mild-stage Alzheimer’s access to the medicines donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine. Although NICE’s decisions do not cover Scotland, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland bases its guidance on NICE decisions.
Since 22nd November 2006, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland has denied people with early Alzheimer’s disease the only drugs that are available to them: in spite of these drugs allowing many people to continue with their usual activities for longer.
Alzheimer Scotland has campaigned actively against the withdrawal of this treatment and supports the Alzheimer’s Society and other plaintiffs in taking this important case to judicial review.
Jim Jackson, Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland, said, “We are hopeful for a positive decision which will recognise the importance, and cost-effectiveness, of treating early Alzheimer’s disease for some people. These treatments have an important part to play in moderating the effects of early stage Alzheimer’s disease, not only in the lives of people with dementia, but also of their families and carers. They have already led to earlier diagnoses for people with dementia across Scotland. The removal of these early treatments would be a step backwards for dementia care in Scotland.”
Please give our Freephone 24hr Dementia Helpline telephone number: 0808 808 3000 and our web page address: www.alzscot.org at the end of articles.
Contact details:
Kirsty Jardine, Awareness Manager, 0131 243 1453, kjardine@alzscot.org
Jim Jackson, Chief Executive, 0131 243 1453, jjackson@alzscot.org
Kate Fearnley, Policy Director, 0131 243 1453, kfearnley@alzscot.org
Maureen Thom, Information Manager, 0131 243 1453, mthom@alzscot.org
We may be able to arrange interviews with those who have experience of the drugs.
Further information:
From the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Manifesto 2007: Let’s make dementia a priority
Scottish clinical guidelines* recommend drugs for people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease; but the NHS won’t pay. The cost? About £1,000 a year per person to the NHS. The benefit? For those the drugs help, the chance to function as normally as possible for as long as they can, to stay independent and to make legal and financial arrangements, saving expense and heartache for them and their families now and in the future. Early treatment is the only chance people have of getting back close to their normal ability – there is no chance of this if they have to wait.
If dementia affected people in their 20s, would they have to wait until they were seriously impaired before getting treatment?
Carers facing the challenges of looking after someone with severe dementia are also denied the chance to see if Alzheimer's disease drugs might help. They need all the help they can get.
Denying people the drugs they need on the NHS will increase health inequality, as only those who can afford to pay get the treatment they need.
Alzheimer Scotland
Dementia affects approximately 58,000 – 65,000 people in Scotland. Alzheimer’s disease is the main form of dementia. The second most common is vascular dementia. As yet there is no cure.
Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland’s foremost voluntary organisation working for people with dementia and their carers. It:
• speaks out for the rights and concerns of people with dementia and their carers;
• operates services on over 60 sites throughout Scotland providing practical services such as day, evening and weekend centres, home care and befriending and carers' support services;
• provides the 24 hour national freephone Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000);
• has a research programme.
Alzheimer Scotland - Action on Dementia is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland 149069. Registered Office: 22 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7RN. It is recognised as a charity by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, no. SC022315.
Freephone 0808 808 3000