§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many prescriptions were issued by doctors in (a) Cornwall and (b) England and Wales in 1979 and 1986, respectively; and what proportion of each of these were subsequently presented to pharmacists in each of those years.
§ Mr. NewtonThe following table gives details of prescriptions dispensed by pharmacists and appliance contractors. Figures for 1986 are not yet available. No information is held about prescriptions issued but not presented for dispensing.
Numbers of prescriptions dispensed by chemists (thousands) Year Cornwall England and Wales 1979 2,507 328,156 1985 2,632 343,393
§ Mr. Gregoryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average and maximum cost per prescription dispensed for the most recent date available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonI shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average cost to the National Health Service of a prescription in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. NewtonThe information requested is given in the table: 71W
Average total cost per prescription [£]—England Year Cost 1982 3.79 1983 4.15 1984 4.39 1985 4.76 1986 4.88 Note: Total cost includes net ingredient cost (less any appropriate discount), on-cost allowances, dispensing fees, container allowances, oxygen payments and VAT.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total value of free prescriptions filled in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what percentage of the total value of prescriptions this figure represents in each of those years.
§ Mr. NewtonThe information requested is set out in the table:
Prescriptions dispensed by chemists and appliance contractors in the family practitioner service net ingredient cost (NIC) of exempt prescriptions as a percentage of net ingredient Cost of total prescriptions (England) Year NIC total prescriptions £ million NIC exempt prescriptions £ million Per cent. 1981 834.4 549.6 65.9 1982 977.3 651.1 66.6 1983 1,095.8 753.3 68.7 1984 1,181.4 819.3 69.3 1985 1,249.9 889.1 71.1 Note: The figures used for numbers of exempt prescriptions are estimates based upon prescriptions submitted to the Prescription Pricing Authority by a sample of around 5 per cent. of chemists.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many free prescriptions have been filled in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what percentage of total prescriptions this figure represents in each of those years.
§ Mr. NewtonThe information requested is set out in the table.
Prescriptions dispensed by chemists and appliance contractors in the family practitioner service Exempt prescriptions as a percentage of total prescriptions—England Year Total number prescriptions (millions) Number exempt prescriptions Exempt prescriptions as percentage of total prescriptions 1981 300.0 205.2 68.4 1982 311.3 216.4 69.5 1983 315.3 226.9 72.0 1984 320.5 233.4 72.8 1985 318.7 238.5 74.8 Note: The figures used for numbers of exempt prescriptions are estimates based upon prescriptions submitted to the Prescription Pricing Authority by a sample of around 5 per cent. of chemists.