§ Lord Dixonasked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many health care trusts in the Northern Region Health Authority refuse people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease the drug Aricept on National Health Service prescription; and [HL1517]
- Which health care trusts make the drug Aricept available on National Health Service prescription; and [HL1518]
- Which health care trusts refuse patients the drug Aricept on National Health Service prescription; and [HL1519]
- How much money is saved by health care trusts which deny patients the drug Aricept on National Health Service prescription. [HL1520]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)Information about local policies on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease is not routinely collected and assessed centrally, but we understand that there is some prescribing of Aricept in all health authorities.
Aricept and other pharmaceutical treatment for Alzheimer's disease will be reviewed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as part of its first work programme. This work is expected to be completed by December 2000.