Somerset supporters act over Government’s scrapping of free lateral flow tests for care home visits
Sir, Your readers may be among those who have already supported Alzheimer’s Society’s campaign and written to their MP urging to keep lateral flow tests free for care home visitors. As the Government’s ‘Living with Covid’ plan came into force (Friday 1 April), all Covid rules, including guidance on selfisolation, were dropped. A recent poll by Alzheimer’s Society revealed that 66% of people in the South West were against the scrapping of free tests for care home visitors. Only 21% supported the plans. Now, over 150 supporters in Somerset, and over 1,225 across the South West, have written to their MP, echoing calls from Alzheimer’s Society to ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, to urgently rethink the decision and keep free testing for care home visitors. With some high street shops now charging up to £12 for a pack of five tests, families are facing costs of up to £733 a month to be
able to visit their loved ones in care homes safely. Our Dementia Connect support line (0333 150 3456) has heard from families concerned about paying for tests amid a cost of living crisis. The Government must recognise the disproportionate impact paying for tests will have and although it was announced a small number of care home visitors providing close personal care, will continue to get free tests, we feel this doesn’t go nearly far enough to allow everyone to visit safely. People with dementia have already experienced the devastating consequences of the pandemic and were worst hit, with more than 30,000 dying of Covid-19 – many of whom were in care homes. With over 17,000 people living with dementia in Somerset, families should not be financially penalised for trying to keep their loved ones safe. Support Alzheimer’s Society’s campaign to keep lateral flow tests free for care home visitors at alzheimers .org.uk/keeptestsfree. Kelly Inwood and Lorna Robertson Area Managers for Alzheimer’s Society
Campaign for Incurable Breast Cancer Drug
Sir, It’s Time for Trodelvy – Breast Cancer Now is making an urgent plea to the public to sign our Open Letter in a final bid to see a life-extending drug guaranteed on the NHS. Last year we began campaigning around Trodelvy, an exciting new treatment for people living with incurable triple negative secondary breast cancer. Trodelvy has the potential to provide hundreds of women with this life-limiting disease the hope of precious extra months spent with loved ones and doing what matters most to them. On 7 April, we received a devastating blow. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provisionally rejected Trodelvy for routine use on the NHS in England due to the drug not being ‘cost-effective’ – shattering the hope of patients in England who face the prospect of being denied this vital drug in the future, despite its approval in Scotland last month. This guidance for England will have knock on effects for patients in Wales and Northern Ireland too, where it’s likely NICE’s decision will be followed.
These women have no time to wait. This is why we’re asking readers to sign our Open Letter calling on the drug company Gilead, NICE and NHS England to find a solution – including Gilead pricing the drug fairly – so this life-extending drug is recommended for use on the NHS. By adding your name to our Open Letter today you could help make all the difference to the hundreds of women in England who desperately need access to this drug and live in the hope of having more time. Behind this figure are daughters, sisters, mothers and friends, who face the frightening reality of limited treatment options and uncertainty about their future. Ahead of the public consultation closing on 29 April, we are doing all we can to ensure Trodelvy becomes routinely available on the NHS for patients who desperately need it. This decision can be reversed – but we don’t have long, and we need your readers’ support. Please sign our Open Letter now at: action.breastcancernow .org/trodelvy-sign-our-open-letter. Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now
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