§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether prescription charges are payable on items supplied and personally administered by general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeFor some time the charging position has been confused. Patients of dispensing GPs, usually those in rural areas, have had to pay a prescription charge if their doctor supplied them with items he personally administered—such as 'flu vaccine—unless of course they were exempt. Patients of doctors who do not dispense all medicines but who have supplied and administered such items have not had to pay a charge.
The drafting of recent changes to regulations might have meant, however, that these prescribing doctors should charge. It is quite unnecessary to impose such apparently new charges. I have decided therefore to clarify the position as soon as possible.
From 1 September patients will not have to pay prescription charges for items supplied and personally administered by either prescribing or dispensing doctors. The necessary regulations will be laid before the house shortly.