§ Mr. GunnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy guidelines are issued to prison staff on the prescribing and administration of paracetamol to inmates; and what variations exist between different prisons.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. John Gunnell dated 23 January 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question concerning the policy guidelines on the prescribing and administration of paracetamol.There are no specific policy guidelines issued on the prescribing of individual drugs with the exception of controlled drugs. Each prison is supervised by a qualified pharmacist and arrangements for the distribution of drugs is agreed between the pharmacist and the prison medical officer, according to local requirements.