Lord Winstanleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will take steps to ensure that patients attending hospital out-patient clinics and who are under the continuous clinical care of a hospital consultant, and require drugs prescribed 1136WA by that consultant, can have their prescriptions dispensed by the hospital pharmacy rather than have to pay an unnecessary visit to their general practitioner, who will not, by the time of the patient's visit, have received notification of the nature of the prescription.
§ Lord GlenarthurLong-standing guidance to health authorities makes it clear that when a hospital consultant needs to retain clinical responsibility for the treatment of an out-patient, he should also retain responsibility for prescribing. The Department of Health will continue to follow up individual cases of non-compliance with the guidance.