§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received encouraging him to provide diabetics with free needles for use in treatment; if he has any plans to make such provision either generally or to particular groups of diabetics; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleySince April 1990 we have received 88 letters from hon. Members and 24 other items of correspondence referring to provision from general practitioners of needles for use with injection pen systems for diabetics. Disposable syringes with integral needles and disposable needles for glass barrelled syringes are already available on GP prescriptions.
We are considering whether injection pen systems including needles for all diabetics requiring insulin treatment should be available on prescription. The pricing and cost implications of various systems are currently under review.