PHOTO-DYNAMIC THERAPY TREATMENT FOR WET AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Early day motion 1050, tabled 26 April 2004 by David Heath (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 90 members.

That this House welcomes the Prime Minister's confirmation that 50 NHS hospitals in England and Wales can provide photo-dynamic therapy treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration; notes that delays in the provision of funding for this vital sight-saving treatment on the NHS, following the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's approval of its use on the NHS on 24th September 2003, mean that up to 130 people a week in England and Wales are losing their sight unnecessarily; therefore reminds primary care trusts that they are able to fund photo-dynamic therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration on a named patients basis now and must have this treatment up and running by 24th June this year; and looks forward to the earliest possible implementation of this treatment.

Signatures by party: Labour 44, Liberal Democrat 26, Conservative 6, Labour/Co-operative 6, DUP 3, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 2, Independent 1.