Don't Stop Dementia Drugs
Ruling triggers review of drug availability on NHS
 |
| NEW HOPE: Ken Clasper, with his wife, Janice, at home in Chester-le-Street |
RESTRICTIONS on the availability
of anti-dementia drugs on
the NHS are to be reviewed after
a landmark court ruling.
It means the English drugs
watchdog, the National Institute
for Health and Clinical Excellence
(Nice) will be forced to reveal
how it calculates the costeffectiveness
of new drugs.
The move revives hopes that
patients with Alzheimer's disease
may soon be able to be get
powerful new anti-dementia
drugs on the NHS at an early
stage.
Last year, Nice ruled that the
drugs, including Aricept and Exelon,
could only be given when
the patient's condition had deteriorated Three judges in the Court of
Appeal found that the process by
which Nice decided to restrict
medicines for newly-diagnosed
patients with mild Alzheimer's
was unfair.
Eisai, licence holder of the
drug Aricept, and Pfizer, which
jointly challenged the health
watchdog's decision, said the ruling
brought renewed hope for
Alzheimer's patients.
Cancer specialist Professor
Nick Thatcher, from Christies
cancer hospital, in Manchester,
said the judgement could be used
to challenge Nice on its rulings
on the cost-effectiveness of new
cancer drugs, including Tarceva.
He said: "Many cancer specialists
do not understand how Nice
Don't Stop
Dementia Drugs
A NORTHERN ECHO CAMPAIGN
thernecho.co.uk/news/campaigns/
By Barry Nelson
Health Editor
barry.nelson@nne.co.uk
NEW HOPE: Ken Clasper, with his wife, Janice, at home in Chester-le-Street
New deputy moved
up through the ranks
A POLICEMAN who began his career on
the beat on the seafront at Blackpool is
the new Assistant Chief Constable of
Durham Police.
Chief Superintendant Michael Barton,
who has spent his career with the
Lancashire force, is to become the fourth
member of Durham's executive team, to
replace Michael Banks.
He will play a key role in operational
and territorial policing and will be
responsible for the operations division,
CID and communications.
Police authority chairman Peter
Thompson said the recruitment process
had been competitive and the interview
panel was unanimous in offering him the
post. He said: "He will be a great
addition to Durham, bringing with him
invaluable knowledge and experience
from Lancashire Police."
Chief Supt Barton said: " I am thrilled
to be appointed to the post and will
continue the excellent work of Michael
Banks to create a citizen-focused service,
ensuring every neighbourhood has a
recognised policing presence.
"I believe that problem-solving in
policing is at the heart of everything we
do for the citizens and I will continue to
provide a high-quality service that is
value for money for the citizens of
County Durham and Darlington."
Chief Constable Jon Stoddart said:
"Michael is a very experienced officer
who will be a strong addition to the
executive team. We are all looking
forward to working alongside him."
Chief Supt Barton completed a law
degree at Newcastle University.
He began his career patrolling the
promenade in Blackpool and has since
moved through all ranks in uniform and
CID. During his 28 years at Lancashire
Constabulary, he has been head of CID,
and of corporate development and has
been divisional commander in Preston
for the past three years.
NEW
ARRIVAL:
Michael
Barton
makes decisions about cost-effectiveness.
This could help to
open things up."
The judges said procedural
fairness demanded that Nice
give full details of the cost-effectiveness
model it used to produce
guidance. Nice's ruling on the
drugs led to protests from the
Alzheimer's Society, which had
campaigned for NHS doctors to
prescribe the drugs at an early
stage. The Alzheimer's Society
was backed by The Northern
Echo, which launched the Don't
Stop Dementia Drugs campaign.
It resulted in more than 3,000
letters being sent to the Department
of Health.
Alzheimer's sufferer Ken
Clasper, 60, from Chester-le-
Street, said: "I am thrilled to bits
about this. I just hope it means
that more people get access to
the drugs they need. Excelon
had a fantastic effect on me. I
was able to lead a more normal
life and I am planning to go on a
coast-to-coast bike ride."
8:28am Friday 2nd May 2008
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