"Pay up or go blind" war veteran told
By Tony Watts - Editor - 21/06/2007
Dennis Devier is an 84 year old war veteran who needs the drug Lucentis to arrest the spread of the chronic eye condition, advanced macular degeneration (AMD). Mr Devier has been told he is not eligible for the drug by Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust despite already being blind in one eye and despite being a full time carer for Francis, his disabled wife of 60 years.
But without that medication, Mr Devier faces blindness.
According to Oxfordshire PCT, Mr Devier is "not an exceptional case". The question he and many others are asking is this: What does the Oxfordshire PCT consider to be exceptional circumstances?
"How disgusting can you get?" asks Mr Devier. You decide by going onto the link below. It will take you to friction tv which allows you to view people who feel strongly about issues to get their point across with their own "webcasts". Mature Times is working with friction tv and backing the RNIB to make sure this massively important subject does not get swept under the carpet.
You can make a difference!
Are you as outraged as we are about NICE's decision to restrict access to the new treatments for AMD to only 20 per cent of patients? The RNIB needs your help to reverse this decision.
Whether you are a patient or carer please write to NICE's Chief Executive. Tell your personal story about AMD and the impact it has had on your life.
The more feedback NICE receives, the greater impact it will have.
The deadline for consultation is 5 July 2007. Please send your feedback to:
Andrew Dillon
Chief Executive
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NA
Alternatively you can send your feedback via fax: +44 (0)20 7067 5801 or email nice@nice.org.uk
It is important that NICE hears from you. Every letter counts!
Early Day Motion
Get the support of your MP! The RNIB is calling on MPs to sign Early Day Motion (EDM) 1711, tabled with cross party support. It asks that NICE carefully consider representations made by stakeholder groups in response to their preliminary recommendations before making its final recommendations on access to treatment later this year. These stakeholders include the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Royal College of Nursing, Macular Disease Society and Royal National Institute of Blind People.
• Find out if your MP has signed the EDM
• Find out who your MP is - visit the Parliament website
• Send your MP a fax - via FaxYourMP.com