NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE (NICE) DECISION ON ALZHEIMER'S DRUGS

That this House is concerned that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has rejected official appeals by organisations including the Alzheimer's Society, Royal College of Nursing, Age Concern and the Royal College of Psychiatrists against NICE's decision to restrict access to NHS drug treatments to people in the moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease; notes that thousands of people with dementia, their carers, doctors and nurses have made representations to NICE that these drugs improve quality of life at a cost of £2.50 per person per day; is concerned that NICE is proposing that from 22nd November 2006 clinicians should not prescribe effective drug treatments on the NHS to people in the early and late stages of Alzheimer's disease; is concerned that NICE recommends using the MMSE memory test to govern access to the drugs; believes that NICE's decision ignores the benefits the drugs bring to carers of people with Alzheimer's disease; fears that the decision will lead to an increase in NHS prescribing of dangerous sedative drugs; is further concerned that NICE does not have an independent appeal process; notes that NICE's appraisal of drugs for Alzheimer's disease has concluded; believes that the Department of Health now has a duty to ensure that doctors should be able to use their clinical discretion to prescribe effective Alzheimer's drug treatments; and urges the Secretary of State for Health to issue guidance to the NHS which makes clear that funding must be provided to allow clinicians flexibility to prescribe as appropriate.