§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to extend to asthmatics the same arangements for free regular prescriptions that now apply to diabetics.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[pursuant to her reply, 24 November 1989 c. 40]: I am pleased to announce that we will shortly be making peak flow meters available on general practitioner prescription. These meters monitor the patient's airways and can prevent potentially serious attacks by giving advance warning so that medication can be adjusted. These will be available to patients as soon as suitable supply arrangements can be completed. The value 622W of peak flow monitoring has been underlined by recent asthma research and as a preventive measure it is seen as comparable to diabetics' use of blood glucose testing strips which were made prescribable some 18 months ago. The Government will also be providing to the National Asthma Campaign £15,000 a year for the next three years to help set up a telephone consulting service.