HC Deb 10 March 1987 vol 112 cc137-8
5. Mr. Hirst

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations he has received regarding the care and treatment of diabetics.

Mr. Newton

Representations have been received from the British Diabetic Association, right hon. and hon. Members and members of the public about provision on general practitioner prescription of disposable syringes and blood glucose monitoring strips for diabetics. I announced last Tuesday that we have decided to make disposable syringes available on prescription from general practitioners.

Mr. Hirst

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his reply and as the parent of a diabetic child may I say how much I welcomed last week's announcement? However, may I emphasize to him the importance of diabetics' maintaining effective control over their blood glucose level? In view of that can he hold out any hope that blood glucose monitoring strips may one day be available on prescription?

Mr. Newton

I am grateful for the first half of my hon. Friend's remarks and I pay tribute to the part that he has played in the campaign that has contributed to this decision. Last Tuesday I said that we would like to make blood glucose monitoring strips available on prescription when the resources become available, but at this moment I cannot give an absolute undertaking when that will be.

Mr. Beith

While I warmly welcomed the Minister's decision, may I say that some diabetics resented the impression that was given the following day that their syringes alone necessitated the increase in prescription charges? Will he seek to dispel that impression and to make it clear that diabetics are as entitled as other disadvantaged groups to benefit from the Health Service and his welcome decision?

Mr. Newton

Yes, I certainly wish to dispel that impression. There is no gainsaying the fact that the resources that enable us to undertake welcome developments must be found somewhere. Obviously, part of those resources are the yield from prescription charges.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

Does my hon. Friend agree that adequate funding for biochemistry departments in hospitals is absolutely essential to ensure that diabetic testing is freely available and that prompt results can be reported to general practitioners for the benefit of patients? Furthermore, is he aware that for some of the newer techniques expensive re-agents are necessary and are used to help test unstable sugar levels in the blood of patients? They are expensive, but considered to be vital in the treatment of diabetics by general practitioners. Will my hon. Friend encourage their use?

Mr. Newton

As I have said, we are always sympathetic and we have shown that clearly and practically in the past week in the development of services for diabetics. I certainly take note of what my hon. Friend has said.