People with schizophrenia are being deprived of the newer "atypical" medications, according to research being released on Saturday by mental health charity Sane.

A spokeswoman for the DoH told ePolitix.com: "As of January 1st 2002, the NHS has three months from the date of publication of NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) guidance to provide funding, so that clinical decisions made by doctors involving NICE recommended treatments or drugs can be funded.

"Clinicians make an independent clinical judgement, taking due account of NICE's advice and the strength of evidence which lies behind it. They may depart from the advice if in their view the circumstances of the individual patient justify doing so."

Forum Response: Sane

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of Sane, said: "It is unacceptable that a year after the NICE guidance people should still be denied the newer drugs for the sake of an average thousand pounds a year.

"Many who could be given a more tolerable life are being forced to endure the misery and stigma of side effects from drugs developed 60 years ago, despite the fact that more tolerable medications have been available over the past decade.

"This contrasts with other countries such as the USA where over 90 per cent of those diagnosed with schizophrenia are prescribed the newer medications.

"Why should we in this country deny people with this cruel illness, who are often desperate and suicidal, the chance of improved treatments and quality of life on the grounds of relatively small extra cost?

"SANE calls for an immediate audit of implementation of NICE guidance on the atypical drugs and that authorities and professionals failing to fulfil the guidance should be held to account."

Forum Response: Depression Alliance

Jim Thomson, director of Depression Alliance, told ePolitix.com: "It is certainly worrying news that the first NICE guideline has not led, in Sane's view, to a marked increase in good prescribing practice.

"We would therefore support Sane's stance in calling for an investigation into guideline implementation. Perhaps the poor results have something to do with the average clinician being torn between following National Service Frameworks, locally developed protocols or these new NICE guidelines.

"Whatever the problem is, it is vital that efforts are made to understand and solve it."