GPs told to ignore NICE statin prescribing guidance in cost-cutting drive

[Northerner]

EXCLUSIVE GPs have been told to ignore current NICE lipid modification guidelines on statin prescribing in low-risk people, under a cost-saving policy at one CCG.

NHS Stockport CCG has advised GPs should only prescribe statins to people if they are found to be at a 20% or greater risk of cardiovascular disease – and not at the lower NICE-recommended threshold of 10%-20%.

The CCG has also stipulated that GPs should prescribe simvastatin first-line rather than the NICE-recommended lipid-lowering drug atorvastatin, as part of measures to control spending.

NICE condemned the decision, which it said meant people were being denied the opportunity to lower their risk of a disease that 'maims and kills one in three'.

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinica...idance-in-cost-cutting-drive/20031977.article

(free registration)

Odd thing to say '1 in 3' - surely they don't mean that a third of low risk people are 'maimed and killed' in the absence of statins? How many low risk people would they actually (and verifiably) save? Why do they insist on medicalising the population? 🙄

 

[Austin Mini]

My wife visited her doctor yesterday and she explained to her that she was experiencing some of the symptoms on the list given with the pills. Her doctor told her to ignore all the notes on the paper which comes with her pills. Can you believe it ?

 

[Northerner]

My wife visited her doctor yesterday and she explained to her that she was experiencing some of the symptoms on the list given with the pills. Her doctor told her to ignore all the notes on the paper which comes with her pills. Can you believe it ?

That's dreadful! They print those out specifically so you know what to watch out for and to report it if you suffer from any of them! 🙄

 

[trophywench]

Ridiculous !!

Of course though it depends on what side effect it is, as to whether it's dangerous for the person or not. And of course whether the disease it's to treat, is life threatening - more life threatening than the side effect. Doesn't it?

But anyway - she should Yellow Card the drug - we can do it online now. https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/