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Eyesight drug timescale demands Eyesight drug timescale demands
(20 minutes later)
A timescale of three months should be met by local health boards in Wales to offer a drug which could save the sight of eye patients, says a charity.A timescale of three months should be met by local health boards in Wales to offer a drug which could save the sight of eye patients, says a charity.
The Royal Institute for the Blind Cymru made its demand after the use of the drug Lucentis to treat wet age-related macular degeneration was allowed. The Royal Institute for the Blind Cymru (RNIB) said the drug Lucentis should now be available on time to all patients who need it.
The condition is the biggest cause of sight loss among elderly people. It can be used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, which affects 1,300 a year in Wales.
Wales' health minister has already promised £5m for the cost of treatment for one year. The Welsh health minister has already promised £5m for one financial year.
It's quite amazing that I can see a bit better now that I have had my first two injections Patient Ruby MorrinIt's quite amazing that I can see a bit better now that I have had my first two injections Patient Ruby Morrin
The charity said despite £5m of funding for patients in Wales being made by the assembly government in June, the U-turn by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to allow the use of Lucentis is the end of a long and hard fought campaign. The condition is the biggest cause of sight loss among elderly people.
In December, NICE decided only to treat the wet AMD after patients went blind in one eye. The RNIB will carry out an audit later this year to make sure that patients in Wales are getting the drug, after the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) gave the go-ahead for it to be used by patients in England.
The decision means all patients in England suffering from the condition will now have access to the drug. In December, Nice had decided only to treat the wet AMD after patients went blind in one eye.
But it also means Wales, which already had money to pay for the drug for a year, now has a timescale of when treatment is available, said the charity. But after a long campaign by the RNIB, Nicet has now decided all patients in England suffering from the condition will now have access to the drug.
This also means Wales, which already had money to pay for the drug for a year, now has a timescale of when treatment is available, said the charity.
The drug is already available in Scotland and as well as Wales, Northern Ireland has said it will be funded.The drug is already available in Scotland and as well as Wales, Northern Ireland has said it will be funded.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) comes in two forms - wet and dry - with the dry form being much more common. However, the wet type is more aggressive and is responsible for about 90% of blindness caused by the condition.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) comes in two forms - wet and dry - with the dry form being much more common. However, the wet type is more aggressive and is responsible for about 90% of blindness caused by the condition.
Sarah Rochira, Director of RNIB Cymru, said: "Today's decision will mean that Local Health Boards in Wales now have three months to ensure that services are available across Wales. Sarah Rochira, director of RNIB Cymru, said: "Today's decision will mean that local health boards in Wales now have three months to ensure that services are available across Wales.
"The £5m made available by the minister in June will ensure that they have the resources to meet the needs of the 1,300 people who develop this condition every year.""The £5m made available by the minister in June will ensure that they have the resources to meet the needs of the 1,300 people who develop this condition every year."
She added that the charity would conduct an independent audit of services in Wales in December.She added that the charity would conduct an independent audit of services in Wales in December.
Completely degeneratedCompletely degenerated
Ruby Morrin, 73, from Broughton in Flintshire, started sight-saving treatment at HM Stanley in St Asaph, and has seen some improvement, and is now able to read telephone numbers again.Ruby Morrin, 73, from Broughton in Flintshire, started sight-saving treatment at HM Stanley in St Asaph, and has seen some improvement, and is now able to read telephone numbers again.
But she said it had been a long and difficult journey to get treatment.But she said it had been a long and difficult journey to get treatment.
She said: "My right eye had completely degenerated. In November of last year I noticed a difference - wobbly lines - in my left eye and from November until June the RNIB have battled for me.She said: "My right eye had completely degenerated. In November of last year I noticed a difference - wobbly lines - in my left eye and from November until June the RNIB have battled for me.
"I feel lucky to be one of the few people who have been treated on the NHS. Hopefully soon treatment will become available to everyone who has wet AMD.""I feel lucky to be one of the few people who have been treated on the NHS. Hopefully soon treatment will become available to everyone who has wet AMD."