FOLLOWING a brief news item regarding the possible removal by the NHS of a drug which alleviates the serious symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, the Bury Pensioners' Association invited Rachel Dennis, from the Alzheimer's Society, to their September meeting.

With the aid of a display, Rachel expressed her concern at the possibility of this drug being removed, explaining that Alzheimer's is just one of the many forms of dementia. She informed us that there were thought to be 400,000 sufferers in Britain, and that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) was contemplating stopping the drug's availability to sufferers on the grounds of cost - £2.50 per day! NICE has seemingly overlooked the extra cost to the NHS resulting from the extreme stress endured by sufferers and their relatives and friends.

Members thanked Rachel for an interesting and informative talk, and she had asked members to contact their MPs to urge them to press for this drug to be made available to all sufferers of Alzheimer's disease.

A speaker has not been booked for the October meeting which will be held in the Town Hall, Bury on Wednesday, October 12 at 2pm.

GL