§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service prescriptions were written for products used in the treatment of high blood pressure in each year since 1987; and what assessment has been made of the effects of her Department's initiative in encouraging doctors to screen more patients on the number of prescriptions written for these products.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIt is not possible to calculate to what extent any increase is due to doctors carrying out screening programmes. The remaining information is given in the table.
Products used in the treatment of high blood pressure England (as defined by British National Formulary chapters 2.2, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6) Thousands Year Prescriptions 1987 51,088.8 1988 51,860.1 1989 53,247.0 1990 54,308.6 1991 59,626.3 Notes:
1. The data for 1991 is not directly comparable to those for earlier years because of a change in the way in which these data are collected.
2. From January 1991, the data are based on:
- (a) items. Previously they were based on prescription fees and some items may attract more than one fee.
74 - (b) prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and personal administration by doctors. Previously they only covered prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors.
3. Figures for 1992 are not yet available.