Mental Illness Drug Access

EDM number 14 in 2002-03, proposed by Liam Fox on 13/11/2002.

That this House notes the concerns of the Zito Trust that many patients with severe mental illness are being denied access to modern drugs which reduce the devastating side-effects of some older treatments and that there are huge regional variations in prescribing rates for the modern medicines; notes that NICE is currently appraising these modern medicines, but is forced by Government inappropriately to take affordability into account in doing so; further notes that widespread general concern amongst mental health professionals, users and carers that the Government is not delivering improvements in treatment; and urges the Government to take steps to ensure that mental health is a secure priority and that promised improvements are achieved in practice.

This motion has been signed by a total of 63 MPs.