§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made in his discussions with the British Medical Association regarding an appeal system relating to the need of a particular patient to be prescribed by a general practitioner a drug no longer available under the National Health Service; by what date he expects the discussions to be concluded; and when a new appeal system will be in place.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI have had a number of discussions with representatives of the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners about the possibility of setting up such an appeal system. In the light of those discussions, I set out the Government's proposals for an appeal mechanism in a letter to the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association on 16 April. I understand that the committee has decided to refer the offer to the annual conference of local medical committees, which is to be held on 12 and 13 June, and that no final response will be made until after that.