A TEAM of Hampshire nurses was travelling to London today to campaign against government plans to withdraw NHS drugs for Alzheim-er's sufferers.

Four community nurses from Southampton Memory Clinic, based at Moorgreen Hospital, West End, were joining Romsey MP Sandra Gidley at the House of Commons to hear her challenge the controversial proposals.

Health professionals and patients alike have been baffled by plans to stop prescribing certain anti-dementia drugs on the health service.

Currently, the drugs, which can improve the memory of people with Alzheimer's, cost the NHS just £2.50 a day for most patients.

Plans to withdraw funding follow draft recommendations from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), an independent body which provides guidance on treatments and care for people using the NHS.

The organisation has ruled prescribing the drugs on the NHS is "not cost effective".

But today Val Hall, specialist memory nurse at Southampton Memory Clinic, insisted the drugs often allowed patients to be cared for at home by their families rather than in residential care.

"My colleagues and I all believe this body's recommendation is ageist in principle," said Val.

"Alzheimer's Disease is, for the most part, a disease of the older population.

"We wonder if such stringent cost measures would be levied against a drug that helps primarily the younger, working population."

Liberal Democrat MP Mrs Gidley, a registered pharmacist, who was due to lead a debate at Westminster this morning, said: "It is alarming that NICE have decided these drugs are not cost effective - for a number of my constituents and their carers, they are a lifeline and have been a real benefit.

"I have been inundated by letters and e-mails from constituents deeply concerned about the proposed withdrawal of these drugs.

"What kind of society are we if we cannot spend £2.50 per day to give those suffering from dementia and their carers a better quality of life?"

Earlier this week, reports suggested there had been a government U-turn over plans to withdraw the drugs, but nothing has been decided until a consultation period ends on Monday.

Patients and their families have only until Monday, March 21 to make their views known. Write to: National Institute for Clinical Excellence, Midcity Place, 71 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6NA. Alternatively, telephone 020 7076 5800 or e-mail nice@nice.nhs.uk