Over drugged

Medicalising 

There was a strong reaction to this afternoon’s mini-debate on the Jeremy Vine show on the swelling drug budget. On Radio Two, there was more heat than light from an excitable doctor who thought she was personally under attack. She was not. Her use of a 'non-prescription' pad is commendable.

The facts are dire. In five years, prescriptions have increased by 27%. More than a £1bn has been wasted on drugs that were never used by patients. Enough for a year’s worth of breast cancer drug for more than 10,000 women. There has been a threefold increase in anti-depressants prescribed and they now almost match the number of antibiotics. The Audit Office say a fortune would be saved if more GPs prescribed the better value generic drugs. The swelling drugs budget is eating away at the essential good value NHS services and distorting priorities. Political issues rarely arouse much comments but today’s health issue has provoked a stream of e-mails. I was expecting a hostile reaction but there was very little. No-one supported the mass use of anti-depressants. There are a lot of people who are worried about the perils of  overtreatment.

These are typical:-

"I was in the car listening to the discussion and all that you said, really lifted my spirits. Not many folk have such an insight about health matters and the danger that some medicines pose to people and society , I certainly wish I knew of more. Thank you and well done, I want to move to Newport now!!"

"Just heard you on the Jeremy Vine show and you echoed the views shared by myself and a large number of colleagues working in the arena of mental health re over reliance on pills. I have have been teaching mental health awareness for many years now and have had mental health difficulties in the past, and recovered not with pills (they made me worse) but through reflection, exercise, good food, change of lifestyle - all the things you mentioned."

A fair point made is that many worthwhile preventive drugs such as statins have added to the increased drugs bill. But the massive increases have been in medicines for minor complaints that can be treated without side effects by deploying exercise, coping techniques or changes in diet and lifestyle.

Comatosed

Parliament is slipping into a coma of euro-drivel. Endless days of euro debate that fascinate 40 or so euro-nerds are as welcome to most MPs as a shot of Novocain. Up till the time of writing today, four hours have been squandered entirely with complaints that the euro-bill does have enough time allocated to consider it. If they had all kept quiet, the day could have been used to discuss the substance of this unamendable treaty.

The euro debate is not an area for sensible discussion. One constituent wrote to me saying:-

“Are you aware that Article 8A-1 to 4 prepares the way for the abolition of Westminster? This would mean that you would lose your job, salary and expenses, and as an MP, you may been seen by the EU as the biggest threat to what they would establish, namely a dictatorship ruled by unelectedCommissioners. Article 8A-4 will also abolish the Labour party as well as other British parties in favour of European-wide parties. "

It’s all reminiscent of John Redwood’s claim that the Amsterdam treaty would lead to end of Great Britain. There's no exaggeration like an anti-Euro exaggeration.

Comments

[paulflynn]

Thanks Jolly Roger. Sorry to hear this very sad story. I wish I could have offered some practical help at the time. As I mentioned in the text, the response I had yesterday surprised me. The well founded cynicism on the harm of drugs is more widespread than I thought.

there is always the danger of being mis-judged for opposing all drugs, which would be far from sensible. there have many great advances in the science. The problems are inthe over-marketing.

[Jolly Roger]

Hello Paul, it's me again,
I sorry to be a persistent pain,
But it seems you've struck another nerve.
With your comment made with measured verve.

The drugs prescribed in increasing doses,
Seem to have attracted Political neuroses.
The reason that they're keen to prescribe,
Is because of what I'll now describe.

Drugs are a cheapo way to treat Conditions that Doctors often meet.
Where therapy of a personal nature,
Is denied on the grounds of expendiature,
Of funds that are in short supply.
I know full well. I'll tell you why.

My dear late Wife, God bless her socks.
Was assailed by many mental rocks.
The doctors filled her up with shite.
Which neither helped by day or night.
She suffered long from mental trouble,
And called on God to burst the bubble.

The therapy she clearly needed,
Was refused in Wales although we pleaded,
With Jane Hutt to no avail,
She preferred to draw the veil.
Ignoring our pleas and heartfelt cries.
She just continued to peddle her lies.

The therapy available on England's shore,
Was denied to my wife for evermore.
Strictly on the grounds of cost.
Then we knew that all was lost.

Some time after, so sad to say,
My tormented wife just passed away.
Her lovely name I don't besmirch
By saying, my pretty bird fell of the perch.
She's dead, she's gone, kicked the bucket too.
I really didn't know what to do.

God had bestowed His final gift.
He ensured that her end was generously swift.
He ended her suffering in a trice,
And we said, thanks God. Nice.

I feel bereft and all that stuff.
Suffice to say I'll have to stay tough.
I hand it over to such as you,
To do whatever you can do,
To bring and end to these fiscal restraints,
On treatment for these dreadful complaints.

Welsh Assembly, Westminster too.
I just hope that this never happens to you.
It's been hard enough to tell this tale,
And hopefully it will be of avail,
In pricking a political conscience or three,
And reminding you of how it's left me.

Yes, I've been offered all the pills.
The panacaea for society's ills.
I told the doctor, you can stuff it.
I'll simply have to learn to tough it.
I saw what they did to my Old Dear.
No thanks, not for me, no fear.

Thank you Paul, for reading this rant,
And hope that you find it significant.
Telling the tale has been therapeutic.
I hope that it also becomes propaedeutic.