HC Deb 22 March 1990 vol 169 cc731-2W
Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many repeat prescriptions of benzodiazepines are given to patients without doctors seeing the patient for a check-up; and if he has any plans to prevent or reduce such practice.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The information requested cannot be determined from centrally held information on prescribing. Doctors already have advice about the use of these drugs from the Committee on Safety of Medicines, the Royal College of Physicians, Psychiatrists and General Practitioners, the British Medical Association and the British National Formulary.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those clinics and hospitals in England and Wales which specialise chiefly in helping people to withdraw from benzodiazepines.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

This information is not held centrally.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state how much his Department is spending in 1990–91 on warning the public about the dangers of addiction to(a) hard drugs and (b) benzodiazepines.

Mr. Freeman

The current phase of the national drug publicity campaign cost £3.8 million, spread over two financial years 1989–90 and 1990–91. The campaign warns of the danger of misusing any drug. Further expenditure in 1990–91 will be considered as appropriate.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the blanket prescribing of benzodiazepine hypnotics in hospitals.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The use of benzodiazepines in the treatment of a patient is a matter of clinical judgment. Information on the volume of benzodiazepines prescribed in hospitals is not held centrally.