§ Mr. MandelsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what new advice has been issued by her Department to national health service doctors regarding possible side effects of using the drug Depo-Medrone in epidural therapy;
(2) what discussions have taken place between her Department and the relevant medical professional bodies about the use of the drug Depo-Medrone; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps she has taken to ensure that national health service staff are aware of the recommendation from the manufacturers of the drug Depo-Medrone that epidural administration of the drug may cause meningitis and arachnoiditis;
(2) what steps she is taking to investigate the risks of epidural administration of the drug Depo-Medrone; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleOfficials of the Department have had discussions with representatives of the Pain Society and the British Society of Rheumatology. We are aware that the clinical affairs committee of the British Society of Rheumatology has issued a statement to its members on epidural injection of Depo-Medrone, a copy of which will be placed in the Library. The statement advises that, because of the risks attached, if a doctor wished to use Depo-Medrone, individual informed consent would have to be obtained in view of the potential serious complication; and that it was desirable to use steroid preparations other than Depo-Medrone. We are considering what further action by the Department may be desirable in the light of this statement.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice has been issued by the Committee on Safety of Medicines on the epidural administration of the drug Depo-Medrone;
(2) what advice has been issued by the Medicines Control Agency on the epidural administration of the drug Depo-Medrone.
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Region 1991–921 Trust income3 (£ million) Per cent, of total provider income3 1992–931 Trust income3 (£ million) Per cent, of total provider income3 1993–942 Trust income3 (£ million) Per cent, of total provider income1 Northern 106 9 366 29 637 49 Yorkshire 299 23 643 45 1,320 89 Trent 148 9 547 30 1,338 69 East Anglian 37 5 130 16 624 75 North West Thames 179 13 768 52 1,196 79 North East Thames 363 21 801 44 1,346 72 South East Thames 180 12 501 30 1,269 76 South West Thames 264 23 388 28 805 59 Wessex 68 7 369 32 771 70 Oxford 20 2 175 20 506 56 South Western 483 39 946 74 1,215 92 West Midlands 107 6 316 16 876 41 Mersey 402 42 711 70 973 94 North Western 159 10 460 27 672 37 England 2,815 15 7,121 36 13,548 67
§ Mr. SackvilleNo specific advice has been issued by the Medicines Control Agency or the Committee on Safety of Medicines. Depo-Medrone is not licensed for epidural administration. The data sheet produced by the manufacturer and authorised by the licensing authority carries a clear warning that Depo-Medrone should not be used for epidural administration.