§ Sir D. Kaberryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take in view of the risk of some users of National Health Service prescriptions being able to accumulate large quantities of drugs, pills, &c., by constant use of repeat prescriptions issued by a medical practitioner.
§ Mr. MoyleOnly the doctor concerned can be in a position to decide what drugs and in what quantities are necessary for an individual patient at any given time. The doctor's knowledge of his patients will enable him to assess risks such as the possibility of the wasteful or dangerous accumulation of drugs, and his prescribing decisions and his instructions to patients will take account of this. As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Arundel (Mr. Marshall) on 25th January—[Vol. 924, c.577]—I have asked the medical profession to join my officials in discussions about these matters
§ Sir D. Kaberryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are his present instructions to general medical practitioners with regard to the issue of repeat prescriptions; and for what length of time repeat prescriptions can be given without a patient being seen again by a medical practitioner.
§ Mr. MoyleI refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas) on 30th November last.—[Vol. 921, c.96].