To think NHS spending decisions aren’t fair

[Jenkibubble]

My dad is 72 and has vascular dementia which is rapidly affecting him . He’s had an incredibly healthy life - quit smoking 50 years ago , drank in moderation , ate extremely well and exercised copiously !
Recently , the NHS have refused to fund a groundbreaking drug (in general , not just for him )
Meanwhile , ex MIL (heavy smoker for years ) and continues to smoke got a heart bypass operation !
I just struggle to see how these decisions can be justified .
wheres the fairness ?

I’m sorry about your Dad but hasn’t the groundbreaking drug proved to have serious side effects and small benefits for patients and also not cost effective? A heart bypass will give your MiL years more of life, though she’s an idiot if she continues to smoke.

Everything is cost benefit decision. No point making a drug available on nhs when it only benefits 1in 1000 and is also expensive.

Sadly life isn’t fair , sorry about your dad 💐

Google if the nhs in other parts of the U.K. support it and move house?

I know it's probably not practical but if you happen live near a border with say Scotland and they do it, then if it's an option to move ten miles into Scotland you could get it....?!

Really sorry to hear about your dad. I hope you are ok.

If you mean lecanemab, this isn’t for vascular dementia but for Alzheimer’s.

although there was a modest benefit in some people (4-6 months slowing of decline), some people did worse. To identify those people who will do worse, people would
need certain investigations and referrals that we don’t have the infrastructure in the UK to support.

The cost/benefit was not in its favour.

if you don’t mean lecanemab, apologies.

I understand what you mean about lifestyle diseases though.

I feel your frustration and desperation, I have been there with my own parents, however realistically the NHS cannot afford every new drug and treatment pharmaceutical companies come up with.

It is not the pharmaceutical companies "fault" either they need to finance research costs and pay their shareholders.

In time the costs will come down, the drugs will get better and the NHS will approve them, it was just too late for our parents.

Some companies exaggerate the benefits to "lobby" for more funding. Even medics struggle to evaluate how effective treatments really are.

Losing a parent is very hard and losing them to dementia is maybe the hardest way. I hope you have some great times with your father ahead. Try not to let the pain of this loss take away the joy you have shared in the past.

I can associate with your pain and anguish concerning your dad, and your feelings about NHS treatment, or lack of, but the sad reality is there is little that can be done with dementia or Parkinson's etc.

I am in my 60s, and have witnessed a few suffering from dementia etc, all healthy people, who lived seemingly healthy lives - non smokers, little booze, exercise. In contrast I know more than a few who soldier on, past 75 as smokers, drinkers, no exercise, and it makes one wonder.
Something that has struck me - dementia is caused in part by low dopamine levels, smoking raises dopamine levels. None of those I know/knew who have suffered with dementia have ever smoked.

That may be a coincidence, who knows.

I agree this does sound really unfair. Something I heard on the radio last night (during a discussion about prostate cancer) made me wonder. A guy phoned in and said the NHS spends FIVE TIMES as much on women's health issues than it does on men. I thought 'Really?'. I could understand a bit more being spent on women than men due to the fact that women have babies and reproductive issues such as periods,but I couldn't believe that it was 5 times as much! I googled it and sure enough,it said that it is split roughly equally between men and women. Not sure where this guy was getting his information from.