§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each health authority in South Yorkshire the number of prescriptions issued where the patient was(a) exempt from NHS payment charges, (b) required to pay the NHS charge and (c) was a private patient.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe available information is shown in the table.
Numbers (thousands) of prescription1 items dispensed in family health services authorities in South Yorkshire in 1992 FHSA Exempt2 Chargeable3 Barnsley 1,959 392 Doncaster 2,551 535 Rotherham 1,857 376 Sheffield 4,412 838 1 The analysis is based on a 1 in 20 sample of all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only. Dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered, are not analysed into exempt, non-exempt or other categories. 2 Exempt prescriptions also include prescriptions dispensed to patients entitled to charge remission under the national health service low income scheme, and prescriptions for contraceptives. 3 Chargeable prescriptions include prescriptions dispensed to patients holding prescription prepayment certificates. Notes:
Information is not collected on private prescriptions.