§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and which contraceptives are listed on the drug tariff for general medical practitioners.
§ Mr. NewtonThere are currently 35 contraceptive drugs which can be dispensed free of charge. These are listed in part XVI of the drug tariff. In addition, there is a range of contraceptive appliances set out in part 1XA of the tariff. A copy of the tariff is available in the Library.
§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many general practitioners in England hold the Joint Committee on Contraception certificate in family planning;
(2) how many and what percentage of general practitioners have formal training which would equip them to insert intra-uterine devices.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that this information is not held centrally. Advice from the Joint Committee on Contraception indicates that up to 16 October 1987 a total of about 22,500 certificates had been issued to doctors in the United Kingdom. It is not possible to be more specific.
§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the breakdown of numbers of individuals receiving contraceptive advice and treatment (1) by contraceptive method and (2) by source of treatment clinic or general practitioners in England for the years 1984, 1985 and 1986.
§ Mr. NewtonThe available information is contained in the tables. A detailed analysis of contraceptive services provided by general medical practitioners is not held centrally.
153W
Health authority family planning services—England clinic and domiciliary Numbers of individuals receiving contraceptive advice and treatment by primary birth control method chosen or already in use 1984 1985 Oral contraceptives 831,000 788,000 IUD 235,000 224,000 Cap/Diaphragm 128,000 133,000 Sheath 183,000 187,000 Chemicals 8,000 8,000 Rhythm 300 600 Female sterilisation 3,100 1,700 Vasectomy 15,000 14,000
1984 1985 Other 13,000 16.000 None 106,000 122,000 TOTAL 1,523,000 1,494,000
Contraceptive services provided by general medical practitioners in England 1984 1985 1986 Total number of patients 2,374,400 2,455,800 2,571,000 Fitting IUD 131,800 127,000 120,400 Other than IUD 2,242,600 2,328,800 2,450,600
§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals exist for general practitioners to prescribe condoms as part of the AIDS prevention campaign.
§ Mr. NewtonWe have no such proposals.
§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy on National Health Service family planning clinics making a charge for condoms: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonOur guidance to health authorities in DHSS circular HSC(1S)32 states that there should be no charge for contraceptive supplies which are prescribed and dispensed, but that in cases where a patient does not wish to consult the doctor, supplies of non-medical methods should be available on sale at clinics. Our advice is that the charge should reflect the purchase price paid by the health authority plus 10 per cent. for handling expenses, and VAT.
§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the provision of free National Health Service contraceptive advice, treatment and supplies: and if he will make a statement:
(2) if he intends to impose a prescription charge for contraceptive supplies provided by the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonContraceptive services are available free of charge as part of the National Health Service and we have no plans to change the present arrangements.
§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average annual cost per person to the National Health Service of providing (a) the oral contraceptive, and (b) the intra-uterine device through (i) National Health Service family planning clinics, and (ii) general medical practitioner.
§ Mr. NewtonInformation is not available in the form requested. For all health authority family planning services the average annual cost per person is £21.30.
For general medical practitioner services the average annual costs per person, excluding pharmacists costs, which are not available, are as follows:
- Intra uterine device—£39..40
- Other contraceptives—£16.50
§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many condoms have been distributed through National Health Service family planning clinics in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that this information is not collected centrally.