§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of therapeutic termination 332W of pregnancy has been carried out in the past 12 months by the prostoglandin method; whether any conditions are stipulated by his Department as to the use of prostoglandins; and whether they can be used by nurses unsupervised by trained medical staff, namely, doctors.
§ Sir George YoungPreparations containing prostoglandin must be prescribed by a doctor. The dosage, method of administration and use in a particular case is a matter for clinical decision by the doctor concerned. In 1979, prostoglandins were used in about 5 per cent. of therapeutic abortions carried out. The part that nurses can play in this form of treatment for termination of pregnancy is set out in annex B to circular CMO/CNO (8)2, a copy of which I am placing in the Library of the House.