§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps fully to integrate community nurses into the primary health care team.
§ Mr. NewtonIt is for health authorities to determine the organisation and management structure of community nursing services. However, we have long encouraged the development of primary health care teams, in which community nurses are an integral part, and gave fresh endorsement to the team approach in a guidance circular (HC(87)29/HC(FP)(87)10) issued to health authorities and family practitioner committees in November.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the drugs Ampligen and Imuthiol (DTC) to become available for the treatment of AIDS patients in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. NewtonI am not able to say whether these products are likely to become licensed for use in this country. So far no application for a product licence or Clinical trial has been received. It should be noted, however, that medical practitioners have the right to import and prescribe medicines for their individual patients even if the product is not licensed for use in this country.