Kirsty Williams fights for Alzheimer's drugs
9.30.26am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 21st Dec 2006
Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has called on the Local Health Board (LHB) to commit to improving and developing services and treatments for people with dementia and their carers.
Her letter to the LHB's Chief Executive was prompted by the recent publication of controversial drugs guidance and care guidelines on dementia.
Ms Williams said: "The new drugs guidance is extremely disappointing for many dementia sufferers and their families. It is made clear in the guidance, however, that healthcare professionals must make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patients, thus allowing a degree of flexibility. I am therefore seeking assurances from the LHB that they will support clinicians prescribing drug treatments in the best interests of their patients, and not reduce their budget for dementia drugs and services."
Notes:
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recently published drugs guidance and care guidelines on dementia. The Alzheimer's Society is concerned that some LHB's will impose tight restrictions on the prescription of drug treatments to Alzheimer's patients as a result of these guidelines.
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