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| David Ruffley MP has voiced his support for those protesting yesterday as part of the Alzheimer’s Society national day of action. |
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| The protestors were voicing their anger at the decision taken by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), following a cost cutting move, to force people with dementia to wait for their condition to deteriorate into a state of confusion and fear before being prescribed drug treatments. |
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| Campaigners have been sending cheques for £2.50 to David Ruffley made payable to the ‘NHS Alzheimer’s drugs fund’ demanding to know why the NHS can’t afford £2.50 to help people with Alzheimer’s disease. |
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| David Ruffley is a patron of the West Suffolk Alzheimer's Society. |
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| David said: |
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| “There are approaching 400,000 people in England and Wales with Alzheimer’s disease. The decision made by NICE to deny people with Alzheimer’s access to drug treatment is completely unnecessary. |
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| “As a patron of the West Suffolk Alzheimer’s Society I fully support the protestors and their calls on the Government to reverse this irresponsible policy. |
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| “There are around 750,000 people in the UK who suffer from dementia and this figure is set to double in the next 45 years. It is of the utmost importance that we act now and give sufferers early access to drug treatment.” |
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| 28 June 2006 |
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