The Devil will be in the detail on Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs - Randerson

11.49.25am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 21st Aug 2008

Rheumatoid Arthritis can be an extremely painful condition

Welsh Lib Dem Spokesperson for Health Jenny Randerson AM has given a cautious welcome to a promise from the Health Minister that she will instruct her officials to "ensure the best possible clinical outcomes" for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients in Wales.

Jenny Randerson had written to the Minister after concerns were raised over the limiting of drug treatments to "one go only." While there are several different drugs available, the draft NICE guidance instructs that only one type of drug should be funded for each patient. The Final guidance is expected in the Autumn. In her reply to Jenny Randerson, Edwina Hart AM promised that her officials would be instructed to study the details of the NICE appraisal to see how it could be applied in Wales.

Jenny Randerson said: "I am pleased that the Minister wants to see if it is at all possible to interpret the guidance in a way that will allow effective treatment for Welsh sufferers of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

"It seems bizarre that patients are blocked from receiving vital drugs just because a completely different drug has failed to work.

"The devil will be in the detail of what the Minister's Officials find. I really hope that we can avoid the heartbreaking situation of patients being denied drugs that will help them to manage what is a very painful condition."