MPs meet local Alzheimer's campaigners

5.01.13pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 22nd Mar 2005

Local campaigners for Alzheimer's sufferers, met local MPs Vincent Cable and Jenny Tonge in the House of Commons, to express their concern over the threatened withdrawal of drugs which inhibit the disease.

The independent body which advises on the use of drugs and other treatments had suggested that drugs like Aricept, that slow down but do not cure Alzheimer's, should be dropped from the NHS. The government, under pressure from MPs and campaigning groups, has drawn back from implementing the recommendation.

Vincent Cable said: "with an ageing population more and more elderly people will end their days in what is called senile dementia. Harold Wilson and President Regan both did. Many of us face this in our families. My late mother spent the last years of her life totally confused and diagnosed as EMI, 'elderly mentally ill'. There are drugs to alleviate the condition and they are not expensive but the medical professionals seem to regard it as a low priority. It should be a very high priority and I hope the government is listening to the strong groundswell of support for maintaining drug treatment in the NHS."