Anna B Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 Just caught the tail end of this on the lunchtime news, so didn't get the whole report... A new Alzheimers drug has been licensed for use in the UK, but will not be made available on the NHS. So I'm assuming it will only be available to those able to pay for it. And any clues to what it will cost? Considering Alzheimers / dementia is the biggest (slow and distressing) killer of old people, and arguably the most feared of all the debilitating illnesses, and usually necessitates care in a very expensive care institution, shouldn't it be made available for everyone who needs it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Chaparral Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 £20,000 a year was quoted for each person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longcol Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 It only slows Alzheimers down by about 4 to 6 months and they've not found that it adds to overall life span. Appears very similar to Arceptin my dad took in thr last few years of his life - slowed down the onset but rapid decline in last few months. Meant he spent less time in a care home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cressida Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 7 minutes ago, Longcol said: It only slows Alzheimers down by about 4 to 6 months and they've not found that it adds to overall life span. Appears very similar to Arceptin my dad took in thr last few years of his life - slowed down the onset but rapid decline in last few months. Meant he spent less time in a care home. His spending less time in a care home would have saved the NHS money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longcol Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 3 minutes ago, cressida said: His spending less time in a care home would have saved the NHS money. He didn't qualify for NHS funding. Had capital in excess of NHS funding limit. It saved him money. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cid Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 37 minutes ago, High Chaparral said: £20,000 a year was quoted for each person. Cheaper to eat better and get more exercise? Research has shown that people who take regular exercise may be up to 20% less likely to develop dementia than those who don't take regular exercise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longcol Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 9 minutes ago, El Cid said: Cheaper to eat better and get more exercise? Research has shown that people who take regular exercise may be up to 20% less likely to develop dementia than those who don't take regular exercise. My dad was playing tennis two or three times a week to a pretty good standard into his mid 70's. He died aged 81. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Chaparral Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 22 minutes ago, El Cid said: Cheaper to eat better and get more exercise? Research has shown that people who take regular exercise may be up to 20% less likely to develop dementia than those who don't take regular exercise. It's not good value for money for the NHS to use the new drug at the moment. The cost may come down in the near future and other drug companies might develop a better drug to slow down Alzheimers better or even reverse it. The breakthrough will encourage other drug companies to invest in research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crookesey Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 It might have been better to keep quiet about it until (a) is proven to work and (b) is affordable, all that has been achieved is to highlight that there is a two tier health service, if we didn’t already know that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cressida Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 1 minute ago, crookesey said: It might have been better to keep quiet about it until (a) is proven to work and (b) is affordable, all that has been achieved is to highlight that there is a two tier health service, if we didn’t already know that. Well, if the rich get first dibs it will lower the waiting list, though they can go private. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now