Outcry as dementia drug rules published (From The Northern Echo)

Outcry as dementia drug rules published

10:44am Tuesday 26th June 2007 in Don't Stop Dementia Drugs By Barry Nelson, Health Editor

CONTROVERSIAL guidelines that will deny thousands of Alzheimer's sufferers access to dementia drugs were published today - and were immediately condemned as a "confusing mess".

Patients with newly-diagnosed dementia are unlikely to be prescribed three drugs - Aricept, Reminyl or Exelon - which have been previously available on the NHS.

Doctors will be allowed to prescribe the drugs only to patients who have reached the moderate stage of the disease.

A fourth drug used for latestage dementia patients will also be restricted and will be available only to patients enrolled in scientific drug trials.

Last Friday, thousands of people marched in cities and towns across England to protest about the new restrictions on drugs, which the Alzheimer's Society says can slow down the progression of dementia in newly-diagnosed patients and buy patients extra time with their families.

Nearly 500 people marched in Newcastle, York and Harrogate, and thousands have signed a declaration in The Northern Echo calling on Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to ensure that doctors can continue to prescribe the drugs.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) guidelines will restrict the drugs to those in the moderate stage of dementia, which could affect about 100,000 patients a year.

Nice insists that the guidance, which includes a call for a more co-ordinated approach to dementia care, should improve overall care.

The organisation, which was set up by the Government as an independent drugs watchdog, has also conceded that doctors can prescribe Aricept, Reminyl or Exelon to a small number of dementia patients who are suffering severe distress.

Last week, as part of The Northern Echo's Don't Stop Dementia Drugs campaign in support of the Alzheimer's Society, a box containing signed Echo coupons, email printouts and petitions containing 2,617 signatures protesting about the move was handed in at the Department of Health, in London.

A further 903 - making a total of 3,520 - have now reached The Echo and will be passed on.

Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said Nice had "opened itself up to ridicule" by publishing contradictory documents on the treatment of dementia and urged Mrs Hewitt to intervene.

He said: "On the one hand, the health body is moving to improve care and services for people with all types of dementia, and with the other snatching away the only drugs that can provide them and their carers with a hugely-improved quality of life.

"The Department of Health and Nice must end this debacle, before people with dementia start to suffer under Nice's confusing mess."

Professor John O'Brien, of Newcastle General Hospital, who is one of the UK's leading Alzheimer's experts, said: "Much of the guidance is very good and there has been some movement, but the overall intention to deny people with mild Alzheimer's treatment remains.

"I think it is a missed opportunity."

Prof O'Brien, who was one of three consultants to represent the Royal College of Psychiatrists in their appeal against the Nice guidance, said doctors had been given some flexibility in prescribing, but not enough.

Three companies - Easai, Pfizer and Shire Pharmaceuticals - have notified Nice that they intend to seek a judicial review of how the decision was reached.

Nice has until November 28 to respond to the companies before they decide whether to push ahead and take the case to court.