Dementia Drugs - a local decision needed
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson John O Dowd MLA is calling on Direct rule Health
Minister Paul Goggins to leave the Status Quo as it is in terms of guidance
on the prescription of Dementia drugs and allow Doctors to continue to
prescribe when they believe a patient will benefit from such drugs.
Mr
O Dowd said:
"In respect to the guidance form NICE to the Health
Service in the North my
understanding is that where their guidance is
deemed as controversial the
responsibility for the final decision rests
with the Health Minister.
"I am calling on Paul Goggins and
indeed the Secretary of State Peter Hain
to leave such a decision on
the future health and well being of thousands of
Dementia sufferers and
their carers to a locally elected Minister.
"I cannot
understand how NICE have issued guidance which goes against their
own
expert panel on the treatment of Dementia , these drugs while not a
cure
make a major impact on the quality of life of the sufferer and their
carers.
"It
will be Sinn Féin's intention to ensure that quality of life for people
with
dementia is improved not restricted." ENDS