§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the report by the Royal College of Physicians on the over-prescribing of drugs to elderly people.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe welcome the attention given by the Royal College of Physicians to the subject of medication for the elderly and share its concern for care in prescribing for elderly patients. The broad conclusion of the Royal College's report reinforce existing guidance in the British National Formulary, which is distributed by our Department to all prescribing doctors, and, in regard to elderly people living in residential establishments, in our Department's Memorandum of Guidance on arrangements for health care in residential homes for the elderly.