§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the practice of each health board in Scotland in respect of the provision of exemption certificates for diabetic patients requiring microfine needles for insulin injections; and if he will make a statement. [21491]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonPatients with diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone, are exempt from all prescription charges. This exemption arises from their medical condition rather than their need to use injecting equipment. Microfine needles are not available on GP prescription.
§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cost to the national health service in Scotland of giving blanket exemption certificates to diabetic patients to allow them to obtain, free of charge, microfine needles for insulin injections. [21492]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMicrofine needles to fit insulin injection pens are not available on GP prescription.
The cost to the NHS in Scotland of providing microfine needles free of charge has not been estimated. The cost would depend on the number of prescriptions written by responsible medical practitioners in respect of patients for whom they considered the use of pen injecting systems to be clinically necessary.