§ Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many general practitioner partnerships also dispense medicines; what is the average income from National Health Service prescriptions received by such partnerships; and what estimate he has made of the financial consequences for such partnerships of the implementation of his original proposals for a limited list of drugs available under the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeCentral data are not readily available in the form requested. However, at 1 October 1983, the latest date for which information is available, there were 2,948 dispensing doctors in England, 209 of whom were not working in partnership. The average gross income from dispensing—excluding the cost of drugs—for all dispensing doctors was £6,041. In addition, some dispensing doctors receive an income from the discounts offered by manufacturers. The limited list proposals may reduce the average gross income from NHS dispensing if it reduces the total number of NHS prescriptions dispensed. We are still considering whether to allow dispensing doctors to prescribe privately to NHS patients medicines which will no longer be available on the NHS.
§ Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the total income received by general practices in the United Kingdom from the dispensing of National Health Service prescriptions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.