§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics he has collated on changes in the average aggregate prescribing of antibiotics in each of the past five years. [16997]
§ Mr. MaloneThe available information is shown in the table.
Number of prescription items dispensed for antibiotics and annual percentage change, 1991 to 1995 England Year Prescription items (millions) Annual percentage change 1991 43.7 — 1992 43.4 -1 1993 47.7 10 1994 45.8 -4 1995 49.4 8 Notes:
1. Antibiotics are those preparations in the British National Formulary, issue 28, September 1994, therapeutic group 5.1—antibacterial drugs.
The data cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England.