§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Health why he has decided to exclude one third millilitre syringes from the list of items available on prescription.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyOne third millilitre syringes have recently been introduced into the market in this country. Our view is that there is insufficient clinical demand for this product to be included in the list of appliances GPs may prescribe. We are keeping the matter under review.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) one third millilitre syringes, (b) one half millilitre syringes and (c) one millilitre syringes were issued on prescription for 1989, 1988, 1987 and 1986.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyOne third millilitre syringes have never been available on general practitioners' NHS prescriptions. Disposable syringes in one millilitre and one half millilitre sizes for use with U100 insulin became prescribable on 1 September 1987. Estimated prescribing figures in England are:
Period Size Total 1987 1 September to 31 December 0.5ml 10 million 1ml Not available 1988 January to December 0.5ml 27.3 million 1ml 4.9 million 1989 January to June (latest available data) 0.5ml 13.9 million 1ml 5.4 million