§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many homoeopathic beds are available in the north-west of England; and what plans he has to extend that provision.
§ Mr. FreemanThe use of complementary therapies, including homoepathy, is increasing in the NHS. There are, for example, homoeopathic clinic facilities in Manchester. However, the number of beds available in the north-west of England is not known centrally.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has of the average cost of homoeopathic medicine per patient compared with the average cost of treating a patient in general practice.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWe do not collect centrally patient-linked data on medicines which are prescribed. Subject only to the requirement of the selected list scheme, GPs are free to prescribe under the NHS any medicine, including homoeopathic medicines, which they consider to be clinically necessary for the treatment of their patients.