Alzheimer's victims in England and Wales suffered a blow yesterday when the courts ruled that they would not be prescribed drugs that could ease their suffering - reports the Daily Telegraph.
Campaigners branded the decision "morally reprehensible" after a High Court judge upheld the decision by the drug's rationing body, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), to ban three new drugs; Aricept, Reminyl and Exelon.
NICE ruled that only those with severe Alzheimer's could have them. The drugs, which cost £2.50 per patient per day, can slow the disease.
Harriet Millward, the deputy chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "We are devastated that these drugs will remain unavailable on the NHS to people with early-stage Alzheimer's. We need to do more research, but it is hugely underfunded."
Gordon Lishman, the director general of Age Concern, said: "People with dementia will have to get much worse before they receive help."
NICE has refused to reveal how it calculated whether these drugs were cost effective in cases of mild Alzheimer's.
The ruling comes after Ivan Lewis, the health and social care minister, admitted that the NHS was failing the 600,000 patients with dementia.
While Ivan Lewis recognises the problem, clearly the necessary funds just aren't available to tackle it - for example by offering clinically effective new drugs like these on the NHS.
So in this context how is it justifiable to reward the audit-failing EU with a 63% rise in payments - handing over £2.5bn extra year (net) on top of the £3.5bn we already pay?
Who needs that money the most - Alzheimer's sufferers or Brussels? And why aren't minsters - and even some MPs no doubt with Alzheimer's sufferers and their families among their own constituents - being more responsible with the finite 'pot' of public money?
Showing posts with label alzheimers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alzheimers. Show all posts
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
NHS fails dementia victims, admit ministers
Thousands of dementia sufferers are being "failed" by a health system which does not diagnose their problems early enough or at all, the Government admitted yesterday - reports
The Daily Telegraph reports health experts claims that dementia is now costing society £539 a second.
Half of all victims never get a proper diagnosis, with symptoms attributed to "old age" because doctors are not trained to recognise the symptoms, and drugs are strictly rationed.
In a belated acknowledgement of the severity of the situation, Ivan Lewis, the care services minister, said the issue was "one of the great challenges now facing society" and that dementia must be "brought out of the shadows".
"The current system is failing too many dementia sufferers and their carers," he said, adding that the disease, "strikes fear into all of us".
Mr Lewis was speaking yesterday as he launched a group to work on a strategy to improve the diagnosis and treatment of dementia.
But how much money is he putting into tackling this serious problem - intro training of health workers and buying better (perhaps more expensive) drugs to ease people's suffering.
And could that amount be more if so much wasn't being wasted on the audit-failing EU?
The Daily Telegraph reports health experts claims that dementia is now costing society £539 a second.
Half of all victims never get a proper diagnosis, with symptoms attributed to "old age" because doctors are not trained to recognise the symptoms, and drugs are strictly rationed.
In a belated acknowledgement of the severity of the situation, Ivan Lewis, the care services minister, said the issue was "one of the great challenges now facing society" and that dementia must be "brought out of the shadows".
"The current system is failing too many dementia sufferers and their carers," he said, adding that the disease, "strikes fear into all of us".
Mr Lewis was speaking yesterday as he launched a group to work on a strategy to improve the diagnosis and treatment of dementia.
But how much money is he putting into tackling this serious problem - intro training of health workers and buying better (perhaps more expensive) drugs to ease people's suffering.
And could that amount be more if so much wasn't being wasted on the audit-failing EU?
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
Call for improved dementia care
The NHS must urgently address failings in dementia care if it is to cope with future demands, reports the BBC.
The number of people with dementia is expected to rise by a third in the next 15 years, but the National Audit Office said it was not enough of a priority.
The report said England lagged behind other European countries over early diagnosis and access to drugs.
It likened the situation to cancer in the 1950s when patients were not told about it due to a lack of treatment.
The NAO said only a third of people with dementia are ever formally diagnosed, with many GPs failing to recognise the importance of early diagnosis.
The report said the UK was in the bottom third of European countries for giving drugs to dementia patients, while the average time taken to diagnose patients was twice as long as in some other countries.
It comes as the High Court considers a challenge by drugs companies, backed by the Alzheimer's Society, regarding the decision by the NHS to restrict the use of key Alzheimer's drugs.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, which advises the NHS on what treatments to use, has said the drugs Aricept (donepezil), Exelon (rivastigmine) and Reminyl (galantamine) are not cost effective for patients in the early stages of the disease.
It has also said another drug, Ebixa (memantine) - which is licensed for use in the later stages of the disease - should not be recommended for anyone.
Judgment in the case has been reserved, with a ruling expected by early August.
Around 560,000 people in England are estimated to have dementia but, as the population ages, that figure is expected to rise to 750,000 by 2020.
The report put the cost to the NHS and social services of caring for people with dementia at at least £3.3bn a year.
But when other costs, such as carer's time are taken into account, the overall economic burden is estimated to be £14.3bn a year.
The NAO said two thirds of people with dementia live in the community, largely looked after by nearly 500,000 informal carers, who lack support from the NHS.
It also called for more specialist services to be set up.
NAO head Sir John Bourn said: "For too long dementia has not been treated as a high priority.
"Without redesign, services for people with dementia are likely to become increasingly inconsistent and unsustainable."
Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "We must develop health and social care services that can respond to the challenge of dementia."
And Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said she hoped the criticisms would lead to the government "getting its act together".
"Too few people are being diagnosed or being diagnosed early enough and things are only going to get worse in the years to come as the population grows older," she said.
Health Minister Ivan Lewis said dementia was "one of the greatest challenges facing our society".
He said funding had been increased and incentives set up to encourage GPs to identify dementia early.
But he added: "We know a lot more needs to be done. We have a duty to strengthen mental health services so they ensure older people and their families are treated at all times with dignity and respect."
So the government acknowledges that "a lot more needs to be done" and they "have a duty to strengthen mental health services".
Yet in reality they're choosing to instead lavish a completely unjustified extra £2.5bn a year on the EU (on top of the annual £3.5bn net we already pay) rather than take greater steps towards fulfilling that self-declared "duty".
Ivan Lewis himself, even after uttering the words above, will no doubt be among the MPs happily rewarding the EU's twelve years of audit failure with this multi-billion pound boost in funding, when he votes on the EU budget deal.
Why should we stand for such blatant hypocrisy from our MPs - and people in great need going without support - while the EU enjoys even more lavish funding?
The number of people with dementia is expected to rise by a third in the next 15 years, but the National Audit Office said it was not enough of a priority.
The report said England lagged behind other European countries over early diagnosis and access to drugs.
It likened the situation to cancer in the 1950s when patients were not told about it due to a lack of treatment.
The NAO said only a third of people with dementia are ever formally diagnosed, with many GPs failing to recognise the importance of early diagnosis.
The report said the UK was in the bottom third of European countries for giving drugs to dementia patients, while the average time taken to diagnose patients was twice as long as in some other countries.
It comes as the High Court considers a challenge by drugs companies, backed by the Alzheimer's Society, regarding the decision by the NHS to restrict the use of key Alzheimer's drugs.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, which advises the NHS on what treatments to use, has said the drugs Aricept (donepezil), Exelon (rivastigmine) and Reminyl (galantamine) are not cost effective for patients in the early stages of the disease.
It has also said another drug, Ebixa (memantine) - which is licensed for use in the later stages of the disease - should not be recommended for anyone.
Judgment in the case has been reserved, with a ruling expected by early August.
Around 560,000 people in England are estimated to have dementia but, as the population ages, that figure is expected to rise to 750,000 by 2020.
The report put the cost to the NHS and social services of caring for people with dementia at at least £3.3bn a year.
But when other costs, such as carer's time are taken into account, the overall economic burden is estimated to be £14.3bn a year.
The NAO said two thirds of people with dementia live in the community, largely looked after by nearly 500,000 informal carers, who lack support from the NHS.
It also called for more specialist services to be set up.
NAO head Sir John Bourn said: "For too long dementia has not been treated as a high priority.
"Without redesign, services for people with dementia are likely to become increasingly inconsistent and unsustainable."
Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "We must develop health and social care services that can respond to the challenge of dementia."
And Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said she hoped the criticisms would lead to the government "getting its act together".
"Too few people are being diagnosed or being diagnosed early enough and things are only going to get worse in the years to come as the population grows older," she said.
Health Minister Ivan Lewis said dementia was "one of the greatest challenges facing our society".
He said funding had been increased and incentives set up to encourage GPs to identify dementia early.
But he added: "We know a lot more needs to be done. We have a duty to strengthen mental health services so they ensure older people and their families are treated at all times with dignity and respect."
So the government acknowledges that "a lot more needs to be done" and they "have a duty to strengthen mental health services".
Yet in reality they're choosing to instead lavish a completely unjustified extra £2.5bn a year on the EU (on top of the annual £3.5bn net we already pay) rather than take greater steps towards fulfilling that self-declared "duty".
Ivan Lewis himself, even after uttering the words above, will no doubt be among the MPs happily rewarding the EU's twelve years of audit failure with this multi-billion pound boost in funding, when he votes on the EU budget deal.
Why should we stand for such blatant hypocrisy from our MPs - and people in great need going without support - while the EU enjoys even more lavish funding?
Sunday, 25 February 2007
NHS facing dementia time bomb
This weekend the Observer reports that a new study - commissioned by the Alzheimer's Society and set to be published next week - will reveal that the number of people suffering from dementia in the UK will rise by a million to 1.7m by 2050.
According to the report, within two decades there will be a million dementia sufferers and demand on the NHS for services will escalate.
It warns that, as the proportion of older people in the population increases and family members are less able or willing to provide care, there will be an explosion of demand, placing 'an intolerable strain' on the NHS.
The Alzheimer's Society is expected to argue that what is needed is a national dementia plan, similar to the NHS plans that already exist to deal with cancer, strokes and heart disease.
This would elevate dementia from a low to a high national health priority, establish long-term investment in research and treatment, improve the quality of life of those with dementia and their carers and, crucially, promote early diagnosis.
Professor Martin Prince of the Institute of Psychiatry, one of the lead researchers on the study, said "If you look at priorities within the NHS, dementia receives very little investment. Yet while figures for cancer, heart disease and strokes are stabilising, the rates of dementia are substantially on the increase."
Back in October, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) advised that drug treatments should not be given to patients in the early and late stages of Alzheimer's - a decision the Alzheimer's Society is due to challenge in court.
To show the effect of shortfalls of public money to help sufferers, the Observer report highlights the case of George Russell, 73, and his wife Enid, 72. They have been married for more than 50 years, but for the past 11 years George has been Enid's carer.
It costs £39 for Enid to attend a day centre for a few hours three times a week - more hours aren't available - and £20 for a woman to bath Enid twice a week.
George said, "I don't think it's right. Enid worked all her life and has never been ill, so why should she pay now that she is sick?"
And he's absolutely right. But sadly we all know where billions of pounds every year that could help many people like George and Enid is going instead - completely without justification.
The question is: are MPs going to block sending yet more billions to the EU - by voting against the EU budget deal when it comes before Parliament? And ensure that money can be put to useful work tackling some of these problems instead?
Or are they going to ignore needs like this and reward the EU's twelve years of audit failure with a 60% increase in payments?
According to the report, within two decades there will be a million dementia sufferers and demand on the NHS for services will escalate.
It warns that, as the proportion of older people in the population increases and family members are less able or willing to provide care, there will be an explosion of demand, placing 'an intolerable strain' on the NHS.
The Alzheimer's Society is expected to argue that what is needed is a national dementia plan, similar to the NHS plans that already exist to deal with cancer, strokes and heart disease.
This would elevate dementia from a low to a high national health priority, establish long-term investment in research and treatment, improve the quality of life of those with dementia and their carers and, crucially, promote early diagnosis.
Professor Martin Prince of the Institute of Psychiatry, one of the lead researchers on the study, said "If you look at priorities within the NHS, dementia receives very little investment. Yet while figures for cancer, heart disease and strokes are stabilising, the rates of dementia are substantially on the increase."
Back in October, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) advised that drug treatments should not be given to patients in the early and late stages of Alzheimer's - a decision the Alzheimer's Society is due to challenge in court.
To show the effect of shortfalls of public money to help sufferers, the Observer report highlights the case of George Russell, 73, and his wife Enid, 72. They have been married for more than 50 years, but for the past 11 years George has been Enid's carer.
It costs £39 for Enid to attend a day centre for a few hours three times a week - more hours aren't available - and £20 for a woman to bath Enid twice a week.
George said, "I don't think it's right. Enid worked all her life and has never been ill, so why should she pay now that she is sick?"
And he's absolutely right. But sadly we all know where billions of pounds every year that could help many people like George and Enid is going instead - completely without justification.
The question is: are MPs going to block sending yet more billions to the EU - by voting against the EU budget deal when it comes before Parliament? And ensure that money can be put to useful work tackling some of these problems instead?
Or are they going to ignore needs like this and reward the EU's twelve years of audit failure with a 60% increase in payments?
Monday, 16 October 2006
Plea to lift ban on Alzheimer's drugs fails
Alzheimer's campaigners lost an appeal yesterday for drugs to be made available to sufferers in the early stages of the disease, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Campaigners claim that the decision victimised some of the most vulnerable people in society.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) ruled that Aricept (donepezil), Reminyl (galantamine) and Exelon (rivastigmine) should only be used to treat those with moderate Alzheimer's. Ebixa (memantine) is only to be used in clinical studies for moderately severe to severe sufferers.
It means the drugs will not be available on the NHS for sufferers in the early stages of the disease, although those currently on the drug will not have them withdrawn.
The licence holder of one of the drugs attacked the decision, saying it was "perverse" and that they would consider seeking a judicial review.
Campaigners and doctors who had appealed against Nice's initial guidance in July accused the body of penny pinching, saying the drugs cost as little as £2.50 per day per person.
Supplying these drugs would cost a tiny proportion of our £115 million a week contributions to the lavishly-funded EU - who needs our help more?
Campaigners claim that the decision victimised some of the most vulnerable people in society.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) ruled that Aricept (donepezil), Reminyl (galantamine) and Exelon (rivastigmine) should only be used to treat those with moderate Alzheimer's. Ebixa (memantine) is only to be used in clinical studies for moderately severe to severe sufferers.
It means the drugs will not be available on the NHS for sufferers in the early stages of the disease, although those currently on the drug will not have them withdrawn.
The licence holder of one of the drugs attacked the decision, saying it was "perverse" and that they would consider seeking a judicial review.
Campaigners and doctors who had appealed against Nice's initial guidance in July accused the body of penny pinching, saying the drugs cost as little as £2.50 per day per person.
Supplying these drugs would cost a tiny proportion of our £115 million a week contributions to the lavishly-funded EU - who needs our help more?
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