Limited List Prescribing (Hansard, 8 December 1992)

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the savings which might accrue from the extensions to the limited list prescribing system which have been announced; and when it was made.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
Savings will depend on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information the advisory committee which is to consider the new categories on the limited list has been given about the savings which it is hoped might be made by the Department through the extension of the limited list prescribing system.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
None.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the advisory committee which is to consider the new categories relating to the limited list prescribing system is able to recommend a nil entry under one or more category heading.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
Yes.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whom she consulted about the definitions of the new categories which are to be considered in connection with the limited list prescribing system; and when that consultation took place.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
The new categories reflect those used in the British National Formulary which are generally recognised by doctors and dentists and pharmacists.

§ Mr. Pickthall
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies she conducted, and what criteria she used in assessing the results, in coming to an assessment on the impact on patients and other users of her decision to extend the limited list prescribing arrangements.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
No such studies were necessary. Extending the scope of the selected list scheme to ten new therapeutic categories will not affect patients' or other users' ability to receive the medicines they need when they need them and for as long as they need them. As now, decisions on individual drugs will be taken on the basis of advice from the independent Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs comprising doctors, dentists and pharmacists appointed after consultation with relevant professional organisations. The drugs necessary to meet all clinical needs will remain available on NHS prescription.