§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of prescriptions in each of the last five years which were exempt by reason of being for(a) women aged 60 years or over, (b) men aged 65 years or over and (c) a pregnant woman or a woman in the first year after birth of a child.
§ Dr. MawhinneyNot all the information is available centrally. Available data are in the table.
549W
Numbers [millions] of prescribed items dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors to men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over, and to people holding exemption certificates issued by family health services authorities in each year 1988 to 1992. Year Men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over FHSA exempt 1988 142.6 21.0 1989 147.3 22.4 1990 153.5 23.5 1991 159.7 24.4 1992 167.8 25.5 Notes:
1. The analysis is based on a 1 in 20 sample of all prescriptions submitted to the PPA by community pharmacists and appliance contractors. Dispensing doctor and personal administration prescriptions are not analysed into exempt, charge remitted and charge paid categories.
2. 1987 to 1990 data are based on number of dispensing fees. From 1991, data are based on numbers of items.
3. People covered by FHSA exemption certificates are pregnant women, women in the first year after the birth of a child and men and women with one or more of the medical conditions which confer entitlement to free prescriptions.