HL Deb 03 February 1954 vol 185 cc633-4

2.44 p.m.

VISCOUNT SAMUEL

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is the case that a patient requiring treatment by ACTH or cortisone can obtain it if he is registered under the National Health Service, but not otherwise; and if so, whether the regulation controlling the supply of these drugs will be altered so as to remove this discrimination.]

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (VISCOUNT WOOLTON)

My Lords, the short reply is in the negative. My right honourable friend is glad of the Question because it may enable him to remove any uncertainty in the matter. The supply of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (which I understand is known only by its initials, I am glad to say) and cortisone is controlled, but there is no question of a patient's having to be registered under the National Health Service in order to obtain them. As the noble Viscount will know, these are potent drugs which can have harmful effects, and experience of them in use is limited. For these reasons, they are supplied only to hospitals which have the necessary laboratory facilities and experienced medical staff. This staff enjoys full discretion in the use of the drugs, and they may be given to private or other patients at the hospitals. In addition, other doctors or hospitals can get supplies of the drugs from these selected hospitals if they are needed to treat one of a limited number of conditions in which they may be necessary to save or prolong life. These supplies are available to private patients, but on payment.

VISCOUNT SAMUEL

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Viscount for this information. It may give some reassurance to private patients who, in point of fact, are not able now to get treatment by this drug unless they go into hospital. If they are not hospital cases, they are unable to get the treatment at all.

VISCOUNT WOOLTON

If the noble Viscount would be good enough to let me have particulars about some specific cases. I am sure my right honourable friend would be glad to follow them up. I know from my own experience of another drug which is on the same list that I was able to get it from a hospital when I was a private patient, but I shall be very glad indeed to follow up the matter.

LORD TEVIOT

May I, in also thanking the noble Viscount for his answer to this Question, ask him whether I may be embodied in the invitation to give him information, because I have personal experience that the situation is really grave and that some people's lives are being endangered through the difficulty, if not the impossibility, of obtaining these drugs. I should be most grateful if I could be included in that invitation.

VISCOUNT WOOLTON

I shall be delighted to include the noble Lord.