§ 14. Mr. Chapmanasked the Minister of Health the maximum number of items which a general practitioner is recommended to put on one prescription form.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithTwo.
§ Mr. ChapmanWhy is that? Is it not the case that when prescription charges 23 were established the Minister said there would be no reasonable limit to the number of prescriptions which might be put on a form? Although this may be a recommendation, is there anything to stop a doctor from putting more than two prescriptions on a form?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithSince the commencement of the Service, doctors have been asked as far as possible to limit the prescriptions to two per form, because that assists the chemist who dispenses the prescriptions and the office which prices them for payment.
§ Dr. SummerskillIs the hon. Lady aware that if an old-age pensioner presents, two forms he is therefore asked to pay 2s.? Is it practicable to give instructions that more prescriptions should be put on one form for old-age pensioners in order to limit the amount they have to pay to 1s.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithWhere an old-age pensioner is limited to his old-age pension, he would have the money returned to him by the National Assistance Board.