Postcode Prescribing

HC Deb 12 March 2002 vol 381 c983W

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on postcode prescribing. [2934]

Ms Blears

I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

The Government are determined to eradicate "postcode prescribing". We set up the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to help to achieve this. NICE provides clear advice to the national health service about the clinical and cost effectiveness of drugs and treatments.