Diabetics

HC Deb 18 January 1991 vol 183 c623W

Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will enable diabetics to be supplied with needles for the Novopen on prescription through the national health service.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

National health service supply arrangements for insulin pens and needles need to be considered together. Subject to our normal evaluation of individual brands, we would consider making pens and needles prescribable, as an alternative to syringes, if this could be done without additional cost. Discussions with suppliers are currently in progress.

Specialty	June 1989	September 1989	December 1989	March 1990
General surgery	1,027	1,093	1,093	1,098
Trauma and orthopaedics	1,129	1,086	1,231	1,223
Ear, nose and throat	1,116	1,116	1,069	945
Ophthalmology	616	631	549	431
Neurology	25	43	44	41

Dr. Moonie

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what examination he has undertaken of the observance by Plymouth health authority of the procedures governing competitive tendering and the award of contracts in respect of the contract for the lease of its transport fleet.

Mr. Dorrell

None. I am advised that the current contract for the provision of leased cars to Plymouth health authority has been extended to March 1991 to enable the authority to link with Cornwall health authority in a joint tendering exercise to achieve improved value for money. That exercise is being carried out in full accordance with the standing orders of the health authorities concerned, and is subject to independent statutory audit.

Dr. Moonie

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will provide a table showing the quarterly spending on office refurbishment and equipment for 1989–90 and 1990–91 by Plymouth health authority;

(2) if he will provide a table showing what moneys have been paid by Plymouth health authority to private nursing homes and other organisations not directly accountable to the authority for each year 1988–89 to 1990–91, inclusive.

Mr. Dorrell

Information in the form requested is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Vernon Seccombe, the chairman of Plymouth health authority, for details.