§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will monitor drug trials undertaken by general practitioners at the instigation of drug companies in order to distinguish those that are mere promotional tricks from those with genuine scientific reasons;
(2) if he will establish a register for chemical drug trials carried out by general practitioners at the instigation of a manufacturer.
§ Mr. MoyleThere are already requirements under which clinical trials involving new products or the use of existing products for new purposes require authorisation. If, however, a clinical trial is in accordance with the provisions of the relevant product licence, there is no requirement for it to be registered or approved by my Department.
Where appropriate, my Department obtains details of trials involving gen
NUMBERS OF NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE STAFF 1st April 1974 31st December 1977 Consultants … … … … 62 76 Hospital Nurses (WTE) … … … … 662 725 Health Visitors (WTE) … … … … 21 25 Home Nurses … … … … 33 31 Professions supplementary to Medicine (WTE) … … … … 100 122 1975 figure) General medical practitioners … … … … 35 39 General dental practitioners … … … … 23 39 WTE equals whole-time equivalent. Expenditure on hospital and community health services has increased from £4.8 million in 1974–75 to an estimated £8 million in 1977–78.
Improvements since 1974 in the personal social services provided by the Lancashire County Council include a new group home for three mentally handicapped adults, the appointment of a social worker and two nursing officers to the child development centre in Ormskirk, and minor improvements to a number of homes and hostels.