§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the medical tribunal's findings, Nicorette will be made available to patients under the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenTwo tribunals, established under regulation 20 of the National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) Regulations 1974, sat within a month of each other to consider prescriptions written by several doctors for Nicorette chewing gum. The first tribunal found in favour of those doctors whose cases were considered that day, but the subsequent one rejected the case of other doctors and decided that Nicorette should not have been prescribed. Therefore, any doctor who 963W prescribes Nicorette for a NHS patient is still liable to be challenged, which may lead to an appearance before a tribunal.
Medical opinion on the value of Nicorette in general practice is divided. The advisory committee on borderline substances considers all anti-smoking remedies. It has advised the Government and the medical profession that the value of Nicorette in the normal circumstances of general practice remains unproven and has recommended that it should not be prescribed.