Vital eye treatment now being denied in Wales

13/07/2007

The battle to get drugs to prevent blindness from wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) is now being fought in Wales. The sight-saving drug Lucentis is being made available by only a few local health boards in Wales while clinical guidelines are still being prepared by The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), who currently only recommend for patients at risk of losing sight in both eyes.

The Welsh Assembly government has expressed their concern over the matter, arguing that allowing people to go blind would create more problems than it solved. In a letter to NICE they said: "The psychological impact of depriving a potential patient of sight preserving therapy does not appear to be explicitly valued in the current interim guidance."

Many doctors have confirmed that the drug can mean the difference between keeping sight and blindness for patients with wet AMD. Research by BBC Wales showed that most health boards were using the NICE draft guidance or accepting patients only on an individual basis. Many in north and west Wales are not being offered Lucentis at all. And according to the Royal National Institute of Blind People, there are several patients in the Swansea area who have been refused funding for Lucentis.

Consultant ophthalmologist Chris Blyth said: "Lucentis can mean the difference between carrying on working - and giving up your job and not recognising your grandchildren," he said.

To help patients access treatment in the absence of NICE guidance the RNIB and the Macular Disease Society have launched an advocacy service called Action for AMD Treatment (AAT). The AAT service will take action to assist anyone who is being blocked from getting Lucentis or Macugen through the NHS.

Call the Helpline on 0845 766 9999 if:

•    your PCT/LHB has declined to fund your treatment
•    your PCT/LHB is being slow to respond to the application from your consultant
•    your consultant says you will benefit from treatment, but hasn't applied to your PCT/LHB (they must apply on your behalf)