Alzheimer's drug change to benefit islanders

Sufferers of mild Alzheimer's in Guernsey will benefit from a change to drug guidelines in the UK, the island's prescribing officer has said.

It follows the approval of three drugs for use in the early stages of the disease in England and Wales.

Geraldine O'Rhiordan said they were already being prescribed to islanders with moderate or severe disease.

She said: "Now there will be no barrier to doctor's prescribing them to people with mild disease."

Ms O'Rhiordan said the island followed the guidelines of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, which is responsible for the regulation of the drugs.

More than 450,000 people in the British Isles have Alzheimer's disease.