HL Deb 11 May 1970 vol 310 cc405-7

2.40 p.m.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government upon what ground they seek to reassure women on the risks of oral contraceptives, in view of the serious warning given to doctors—

  1. (a) to assess the family history of the potential user in relation to hypertension, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, thromboembolism;
  2. (b) to examine for evidence of hypertension, glycosuria, varicose veins and hyperlipidaemia;
  3. (c) to warn the user of the added risk of smoking and weight gain and the possible adverse effects of illness, accidents and operations especially when these require confinement to bed;
  4. (d) to conduct periodical examinations; and
  5. (e) to supervise the woman in such a way that healthy women do not become neurotic]

BARONESS SEROTA

My Lords, the risk of thromboembolic disease attributtable to the use of oral contraceptives by healthy women has always been small. The recent Report from the Committee on Safety of Drugs has shown that it can be made even smaller; and the recommendations which the noble Baroness quotes in her Question, from a leading article in the British Medical Journal of April 25, are entirely sensible suggestions aimed at reducing the risk to the individual further still. Her Majesty's Government consider this to be a reasonable basis for reassurance about the degree of that risk.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, I thank my noble friend very much for agreeing with me in this matter. In view of the indications given to the doctors who examine these women, can my noble friend tell me how it is possible for the overworked doctors in this country to make this detailed investigation into every case, if these pills are distributed on social grounds by the National Health Service?

BARONESS SEROTA

My Lords, I think I should make it clear to my noble friend—I am sure she is already aware of this—that oral contraceptives are available only on prescription, and it is clearly, and in my view properly, the responsibility of the doctor who precribes the pill to do so in the light of all the relevant facts.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, am I to gather from that reply that the policy is not going to be changed; that the pill is to be given only on pathological grounds and not on social grounds? That will satisfy me.

BARONESS SEROTA

My Lords, I feel that I can never satisfy the noble Baroness on this particular point.

BARONESS GAITSKELL

My Lords, would not the Minister agree (I say this with the greatest possible respect for her reply) that what we must bear in mind is that the morbidity and mortality risks of the pill are less than the morbidity and mortality as a result of pregnancy? Would not the Minister also agree that if to-day women are exhorted to examine themselves, to be examined, to be supervised, and warned continuously, there is a real danger of their being turned into raging hypochondriacs?

BARONESS SEROTA

My Lords, on the question of risks in pregnancy, I would add the further point that the risks where abortion is involved are even greater, certainly very much greater than the risks of the pill.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, may I ask a final question? The Committee on Safety of Drugs have said that there is very little risk, but is it not a fact that the Committee have also said that only one in ten thromboembolic episodes is ever reported to them?

BARONESS SEROTA

Yes, my Lords; these facts were most carefully and fully set out in the Report of the Committee on Safety of Drugs which was published in the same edition of the British Medical Journal on which the noble Baroness has set her Question.

LORD PLATT

My Lords, while in general agreement with the reply which the noble Baroness, Lady Serota, has given to the questions of the noble Baroness, Lady Summerskill, I would ask whether Her Majesty's Government are aware of the enormous amount of research that is taking place on this particular subject, through the Medical Research Council and in other places, to find not only the safest type of the present kind of pill but also its long-term effects, and to explore other methods of contraception?

BARONESS SEROTA

Yes, my Lords; and the Committee on Safety of Drugs keep in close touch with the Medical Research Council on all matters of common concern.