§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what response he has had from the medical profession in respect of his request to practitioners to curtail prescriptions for linctuses, analgesics, laxatives and vitamin preparations; whether he considers it would not be more realistic to exclude such drugs from National Health Service prescriptions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EnnalsOn 19th April the chairman of the council of the British Medical Association and I jointly signed a statement expressing concern about rising patient expectation and consumption of NHS facilities and requesting doctors to consider how best to contribute towards arresting this trend. A copy of this statement is in the Library. It is too early yet to assess its effect.
Only a doctor can decide what medicines—if any—may be needed in a particular case and there can thus be no question of prohibiting the prescription under the National Health Service of any available drug, though a doctor may of 372W course be called upon to justify his prescribing decisions to his professional colleagues if the cost appears excessive.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the saving to the National Health Service if simple cough linctuses, analgesics, laxatives and vitamin preparations were excluded from National Health Service prescriptions.
§ Mr. EnnalsI assume that the hon. Member has in mind those drugs of the categories named which can be obtained without prescription. I will write to him as soon as the necessary calculations have been made.