David Davies today voiced his dismay at draft guidelines published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), which, if implemented, will severely restrict the provision of valuable and life-changing drugs to Alzheimer’s sufferers through the NHS. NICE, who issue guidelines to be used by medical practitioners across the country, have recommended that key Alzheimer’s medication be only given to those who are in the “moderate” stages of the disease. Speaking from Westminster today, Mr. Davies said, “NICE were told to go away and reconsider their findings after the last farrago, when they recommended that Alzheimer’s medication be dropped from the NHS entirely, and now they’ve come back with advice that will be every bit as damaging as before. “What they seem to have forgotten is that the medication helps to slow down the onset of Alzheimer’s, therefore drastically improving and maintaining quality of life and hugely benefiting sufferers as well as their family and friends. To deny those in the early stages the chance to slow down their affliction seems cruel and unusual. “I have therefore written to Patricia Hewitt and Brian Gibbons in the Welsh Assembly to urge them to consider the implications of restricting Alzheimer’s medication and to bring to their attention the huge strength of feeling on this matter.”