§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the cost to the NHS arising from increased prescription of tranquilisers to those service men and women and their families who are suffering from trauma, stress and long-term mental illness consequent upon the war in the Gulf.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThere is no information available on which to base any such estimate.
§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Chief Medical Officer is proposing to issue guidance to general practitioners in regard to the treatment of servicemen and women and their families suffering from trauma, stress and long-term mental illness following upon war in the Gulf with regard to the cost implications and avilability of psychotherapeutic treatment and drug-based treatment.
§ Mr. DorrellThe Chief Medical Officer does not intend to issue guidance on what is a clinical matter. General practitioners regularly deal with people suffering from stress and mental illness using psychotherapeutic methods and drug treatment. Previous major incidents have given an increased understanding of the approaches which are most helpful.
Service men and women will be treated primarily by the services medical organisations. Families will in the main receive care from their general practitioners, in the usual way under national health service arrangements.