HUNDREDS of campaigners are to march through the centre of York on Friday in protest at the decision to stop providing drugs to people in the early stages of Alzheimer's.
Sufferers of the condition, their carers and professionals are backing an appeal against the cost-cutting decision by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to deny people in the early and late stages of the disease.
From next week, the drugs, which cost just £2.50 a day, will be denied to thousands, despite helping people cope with symptoms of the disease such as confusion, memory loss or anxiety.
The march begins at noon at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, and finishes at York Minster.
York MP Hugh Bayley and Selby MP John Grogan will receive local petitions and Alzheimer's sufferer Trevor Jarvis will speak of his own experiences of the drug Aricept, which will not be provided in future.
The society has appealed against the decision to cut the provision of drugs, after the NICE appraisal for drug treatments recommended treatments Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl only be funded for people in the moderate stages of the disease.
Mr Grogan, pictured, said: "My postbag indicates there is a real degree of anger and frustration among many carers of Alzheimer's sufferers. I do think Ministers need to ask NICE to look at this issue again."
Gill Myers, branch manager of the Selby and York Alzheimer's Society, said: "Please join us in our battle against the decision that stops people in the early stages of dementia receiving the vital drugs on the NHS and help us raise awareness about this key issue."
Dr Kenneth Thomson, a former GP with Alzheimer's, and his wife, Diana, are hoping to attend the march.
"He wouldn't be sat here now if we hadn't got the drugs," said Mrs Thomson said. "He would be in permanent care. I worry that people won't get an opportunity to return to a more normal way of life, which is possible with these drugs."
For more information about the march, phone Gill Myers on 01904 799335, or visitwww.alzheimers.org.uk/ york.
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