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Dementia

We have not reached the end of the process. There is still the opportunity for appeal, and I have repeatedly made that point. I expect that there will be an appeal and NICE will have to take account of that. I suspect that one of the arguments that will be advanced in the course of the appeal is that NICE has not taken account of all the factors that it should have. That was the central thrust of the hon. Gentleman’s argument. People who have participated in the project from NICE’s perspective will not necessarily accept that but that is one issue that NICE—not the Department of Health—will have to take into account. It is important to make one point. The issue is not only prescription drugs and the way in which we treat and manage this dreadful disease, but the relationship between health and social care, the day-to-day practical and emotional support for carers and users, and the changes that we want to make to social care to achieve a more integrated approach. In the past, we had health on one side and social services on another, and we want to bring them together. If we get those issues right, it will significantly improve the quality of life for users and carers. Question put and agreed to.