NHS restrictions on new drugs.

[jennydog]

There is a half page article in to- day's Mail on Sunday entitled " NHS ' blocking vital heart drugs to save money'."

Essentially it is about anti-coagulants and the cost of the new types. AFA quoted. NICE say that clinical commissioning groups are legally obliged to fund these new drugs where they are clinically appropriate.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Thanks jennydog

for those who prefer a link it's here

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

I must admit I wish they would stop using the term "blood thinners", and it's not entirely accurate as if the £2 a day is accurate, then compared to the NICE costing of £322 a year for warfarin including blood tests it's not a huge saving. (£408 per year)Their £2 a month for warfarin (as per the Mail) is drug cost only.

But what is certainly true is that it's a postcode lottery with local CCGs certainly playing hard and fast with the rules.

Good to get some publicity for it.

Good old Jo Jerome

Ian

[Mrspat]

I think that they - the media and medical profession - use the term blood thinner because anti-coagulation has too many syllables in it and they think we won't understand ....

[gerryatriq in reply to Mrspat]

thats about right in UK today

[jennydog]

Thanks for the link, Ian. My computer skills aren't up to it!

I live in North Wales and the Welsh NHS apparently won't fund alternatives to warfarin. It isn't an issue for me personally as I've had no problems with warfarin but I do worry about the wider implications of their cost-cutting. Their decision making is often decidedly ropey. They decided to abolish car parking charges in all hospitals. The result of this is that it is absolutely impossible to find a parking space in our local hospital.

[Hidden in reply to jennydog]

Yes, and the Welsh NHS is the responsibility of the Welsh government, so I'm not even sure if they are bound by NICE guidelines and decisions, does anyone know? All I know is that you have to be pretty much allergic to warfarin before they will sanction an alternative. Our doctor told me that nobody in our practice is on one of the NOACs. I also wonder about free prescriptions for all - maybe they could provide better medicine if they at least said the top 10% of earners should pay for prescriptions...

Lis

[dedeottie in reply to Hidden]

I totally agree and actually I have not met anyone in my area that wouldn't be happy to pay for prescriptions as in England. I would rather have access to better quality meds when needed. Hey ho!

[Hidden in reply to dedeottie]

I could go on but it would become a rant lol. Have a great Easter

[jennydog in reply to Hidden]

Diolch. Enjoy the nice weather!

[Hidden in reply to jennydog]

You too Jenny, looks like another lovely day!

[dedeottie]

I live in south Wales and take medication for osteoporosis. Recently they changed by calcium tablets from expensive melt on the tongue calcichew to massive bullet shaped tablets you have to swallow and that give me indigestion! According to my G.P.daughter in law, if I make a fuss they will put me back on calcichew but I have decided to pay for my own as all prescriptions in Wales are free for everyone and since I can afford it I thought I would give the Welsh N.H.S. a helping hand, goodness knows they need it! X

[Buffafly in reply to dedeottie]

That is a very interesting thought, I did not know you could choose to do that! I have often thought that it is too much to expect the NHS to fund fantastically expensive medicines which in some cases have a small benefit to the patient (don't mean yours).

[jennydog in reply to dedeottie]

Have you tried calcium lactate tablets? It might be worth researching them as I seem to remember that it is particularly effective and cheap too.

[dedeottie in reply to jennydog]

Thanks for that. I will try them. X

[BobD Volunteer]

Thank God for NHS is my thought. My monthly implant post cancer surgery is about £70 I'm told and I have been on them (or had them put in me) since August 2011. Trial stop in August this year but if psa starts to rise back on them! OK then it s all my fault that NOACs are not widely used. LOL

Bob

[dedeottie in reply to BobD]

Definitely not! That's exactly what the N.H.S. is for. When we really need it you can't beat the N.H.S. x

[dedeottie in reply to dedeottie]

In my opinion of course!

[mumknowsbest Volunteer]

Good to have someone to blame Bob. I am all for the publicity for the NOAC's just wish they would get the castings right,

Eileen

[Bridges4]

Does anyone know if a legal challenge has been made against decisions made by the CCGs? It would seem that they have a LEGAL obligation to provide these drugs when clinical reasons dictate. NOACs cannot be refused on cost grounds

[jennydog in reply to Bridges4]

I suppose it depends on what "clinical reasons" means. The problem would be the cost of taking them to court.

[CHRISAF18]

I have been on warfarin for 4 years yes inconvenient at times but I am happy really as I just feel I am being monitored. Talked about NOACS but I am told that there still isn't an antidote and one or two can give you an upset stomach. So I opted to stay on warfarin but at least was given a choice. It really depends where you live I guess.

[jennydog]

There is an antidote to dabigatran ( Pradaxa ) called Praxbind. I understand that others are now available.