RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS TREATMENT

Early day motion 2100, tabled 21 July 2008 by Bob Spink (UKIP). Signed by 44 members.

That this House congratulates the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society on its caring activities; notes the recent National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Final Appraisal Document; is aware of the pain, and the medical and social problems, suffered by people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis; further notes that effective treatment can save the NHS significant sums in the longer term; further notes that the NICE decision would deny 60,000 people with rheumatoid arthritis access to a range of anti-TNF drugs and could leave them facing high levels of pain, the possibility of more surgery and long-term disability; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that anti-TNF drugs are available to rheumatoid arthritis sufferers according to their clinical needs.

Signatures by party: Labour 24, Liberal Democrat 8, Conservative 3, DUP 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1, UKIP 1.