§ 31. Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will enter into consultations with the medical profession to establish a code of practice for repeat prescriptions.
§ Mr. MoyleI am not satisfied that a code of practice would be appropriate. Guidance on the quantities of medicines to be prescribed at any one time, and on the special problems of patients with long-standing complaints, was issued in 1960 following the report of the Hinchliffe Committee. Subject to that advice, each doctor needs to decide how to comply with his obligations in the light of his professional judgment according to the needs and circumstances of each patient.