Government failing Alzheimer's sufferers
March 7, 2007 5:00 PM
David Howarth, MP for Cambridge, has today called for better treatment for Alzheimer's sufferers.
Mr Howarth gave the keynote speech at a public event organised by Cambridge Older People's Enterprise earlier this week.
Mr Howarth commented:
"More than 700,000 people in the UK suffer from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, yet dementia care and treatments are under-funded and inadequate.
"Last year NICE ruled to deny drugs which can alleviate the symptoms of Alzheimer's and slow down its effects to those with early stage Alzheimer's. The system is denying drugs which could delay the worst symptoms of dementia, all for the cost of just £2.50 per day.
"At the same time, some Alzheimer's patients are being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs which can cause their condition to worsen and their chance of suffering a stroke to increase. These drugs can be useful in occasional and severe cases to deal with short-term instances of psychosis but far too many dementia sufferers are being routinely prescribed the drug.
David Howarth MP at the COPE event
"We are failing dementia sufferers and their families."
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