§ Mr. Linsteadasked the Minister of Health to state, for the latest convenient three months, the number of prescriptions dispensed by chemists under the National Health Service Act, 1946; the ratio of prescriptions per form; and the proportion of forms in the S bundle, Expensive Prescriptions.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe table below sets out for England and Wales the information required in the first two parts of the Question. The information asked for in the last part will not be known until the prescriptions have been priced:
— Number of Prescriptions dispensed (declared by Chemists) Ratio of Prescriptions per Form August, 1952 14,075,000 1.71 September, 1952 16,347,000 1.72 October, 1952 18,662,000 1.73
§ Mr. Linsteadasked the Minister of Health how many doctors had their prescribing investigated by his Department's special investigation unit during the latest convenient period of 12 months; and with what results.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodDuring the 12 months ended 31st March, 1952, the prescribing of 222 doctors (some of whom are in partnership) was examined for the first time. Medical officers in my Department have visited most of them to discuss possible economies in their prescribing. In the same period the prescribing of 85 doctors was examined a second time and a marked improvement was found to have taken place in the great majority of cases.
234WTwo cases were referred to local medical committees, who found in each case that there had been excessive prescribing, and I have authorised deductions from the doctors' remuneration.