REES-MOGG ‘CONCERNED’ THAT NHS DECISION OVER ALZHEIMER’S DRUG WILL PRESSURE ELDERLY INTO ASSISTED DYING

SIR Jacob Rees-Mogg has spoken of his concern over the decision for the NHS not to make Alzheimer’s drug Donanemab available on the NHS in England.

Speaking on GB News he said: “It has emerged the Health Secretary Wes Streeting will vote against the landmark bill on assisted dying next month, owing to concerns that overstretched end of life care will pressure people to take the option of euthanasia.

“He had previously voted in favour of assisted dying back in 2015. The report suggests he has shifted his stance and told Labour MPs that the palliative care options do not currently give patients a serious choice.

“This comes as a new Alzheimer’s drug, Donanemab, has been rejected for widespread use in the NHS in England, with the health spending watchdog claiming it does not currently demonstrate value for the NHS.

“While evidence suggests the drug slows down cognitive decline by four to seven months, the watchdog has said this benefit does not justify the extra cost incurred by the Health Service, which highlights the argument that care for the elderly is not as it should be.

“I am concerned about the Alzheimer’s drug not being made available because the NHS, once again, is looking at costs in a silo. It’s not considering the costs of care that have to be provided and reduction in those costs if somebody’s cognitive faculties remain better.

“It ties in very much with what Wes Streeting seems to have been saying in these reports from private meetings with Labour MPs that we haven’t got in place proper care for the elderly, and therefore they may feel pressurised into euthanasia, which has always been the great concern.

“It’s not that people necessarily put on direct pressure, but it’s indirect pressure, and something like Donanemab, not having an Alzheimer’s drug available, is saying, ‘Well, look, it’s only going to help you for seven months. Is that seven months really worth it and isn’t assisted suicide going to be an option.’ And that’s where the internalised pressure would begin to build up.”