The Final Indignity ; When Ron's Wife Was Gripped by Dementia One Thing Made Both Their Lives Bearable: Aricept.Yesterday, an Unelected Quango Insisted She - and Countless Others - Must Be Denied This Drug.For All of Them This Is ...

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THE NHS drugs rationing watchdog provoked fury yesterday by withdrawing drugs that could help thousands of Alzheimer's patients. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has pushed ahead with stopping the popular treatments despite a legal challenge. Campaigners fighting for the drugs on the NHS have called on the Government to intervene, writes JENNY HOPE.

From today, patients with mild symptoms will no longer qualify for medication.

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The Final Indignity ; When Ron's Wife Was Gripped by Dementia One Thing Made Both Their Lives Bearable: Aricept.Yesterday, an Unelected Quango Insisted She - and Countless Others - Must Be Denied This Drug.For All of Them This Is ...

Instead, they will have to become 'moderately' ill before getting treatment - which will be stopped when they enter the later stages of the disease.

NICE is facing a legal challenge from three drug companies after confirming its decision to restrict access to Aricept, Reminyl and Exelon. An estimated 50,000 new patients a year will be denied funding from PCTs for the drugs, which cost around Pounds 2.50 a day per patient.

There is no cure for Alzheimer's, but drugs can delay progress of symptoms such as memory loss, personality changes and the erosion of the ability to do everyday things.

Although NICE accepts the drugs work for patients with mild symptoms, it says they are ...

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