§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice she has received from the specialist independent sub-committee chaired by Professor Sir William Asscher on the effectiveness of nicotine patches in helping patients to give up smoking; and if she proposes to accept it.
§ Dr. MawhinneyA special committee chaired by Sir William Asscher was asked to advise on whether a decision to remove a particular nicotine patch product from national health service prescription should be reviewed. The committee advised that the product should be available on the NHS at a reduced price. After careful consideration of all the facts, including the advice of the committee, it has been decided that the supply of nicotine patches is not a priority for the use of the limited resources available to the NHS.
§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recommendations have been made in the publication "Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin", on the availability of nicotine patches on NHS prescription in order to help patients give up smoking.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe drug and therapeutics bulletin of 22 November concluded, in an article about nicotine patches, that the use of
nicotine patches plus advice and support, should be provided by the NHS.Copies of the bulletin are available in the Library.