NHS Scotland rejects advanced Parkinson's treatment
We're disappointed that Lecigon, a new treatment for advanced Parkinson's, has been rejected by NHS Scotland. We're increasingly concerned about access to advanced treatments in Scotland.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) ruled that Lecigon shouldn't be prescribed to people in Scotland. The medicine can help people who experience severe movement symptoms that are poorly controlled by standard Parkinson's medications.
Lecigon is available for people with advanced Parkinson's in England and Wales. It's disappointing that people in Scotland won't have this treatment option.
Lecigon is an infusion of Parkinson's medication (a gel containing levodopa, carbidopa and entacapone). A small pump delivers the gel through a tube that is surgically inserted into the intestine. It can help medication to work more effectively, reducing side effects, motor fluctuations and off periods.
Like all advanced treatments, it's not clinically suitable for everyone.
More treatment options for advanced Parkinson's crucial
Tanith Muller, Parliamentary and Campaigns Manager at Parkinson's UK Scotland, said:
"Most people with Parkinson's manage their condition with standard medicines. But for people with complex and advanced Parkinson's, having access to the full range of treatments is essential. It's disappointing that Scotland is lagging behind England and Wales.
"Life for people in this group can be unbearably hard. With symptoms like uncontrolled movements, sudden freezing and agonising cramps, people become unable to leave their homes. If you can't predict when your medication will work and enable you to speak or move, you can't plan your life.
"The wider context for people with advanced Parkinson's in Scotland is a 2 year wait for Deep Brain Stimulation surgery. Scotland's NHS Boards have also failed to make progress in rolling out access to Produodopa, a new treatment that the SMC approved some 9 months ago. People with the most complex Parkinson's symptoms and their families are simply desperate for treatments that can relieve their symptoms.
"Everyone with Parkinson's is different, and what works well for one person may not be effective for someone else. That's why it's so important to have a range of options available to help people with the most severe forms of Parkinson's to manage their symptoms.
"We think that the toolbox for advanced Parkinson's should include Lecigon alongside other medicines and surgery. And NHS Scotland, and all its Boards, must commit to making clinically proven Parkinson's treatments available to those with complex symptoms."
Are you waiting for an advanced treatment in Scotland?
If you're waiting for an advanced Parkinson's treatment or would like to tell us about your experience of advanced therapies, we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected]
More information about Parkinson's treatments
If you have Parkinson's, you should speak to your consultant or Parkinson's nurse about which treatment options are most suitable for you. It's important to know that advanced therapies are limited to people with very severe symptoms, and will only be effective in people who are clinically suitable for treatment.