§ Mr. HuttonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessments she has made of the cost of providing needles for BD pens on prescriptions;
(2) whether needles for BD pens will be available on prescription; and if she will make a statement;
(3) what representations she has received on the question of providing needles for BD pens on prescription; what was the content of those representations; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyWe have received a small number of representations on this issue. Decisions about additions to the list of items which GPs may prescribe must be subject to the availability of resources and other competing priorities. In the case of insulin injection pens, and their special needles, negotiations about the price are continuing with manufacturers. From the information currently available, the cost of these pens and their needles would exceed the current cost of disposable needles.