HC Deb 13 March 1995 vol 256 c406W
Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations she has received about the information required to be obtained by those in pharmacies from those presenting prescription forms; what assessment she has made of the intrusiveness of the information required; and what arrangements are being made to print prescription forms in larger type and in ethnic minority languages;

(2) which professional bodies were consulted about the design and content of the prescription forms to be issued shortly; on which dates such consultation took place; if consultation resulted in favourable reaction to the content; how many prescription forms have been printed to date; how many remain to be printed; what is the total cost of printing and distribution; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Malone

From 1 April 1995 the already wide-ranging national health service prescription charge exemption and remission arrangements presently covering 81 per cent. of prescription items will be further extended to include all recipients of disabled working allowance who had less than £8,000 capital at the date of their claim. The prescription form FP10 must be amended to reflect that.

I am also taking the opportunity to amend the declaration to make it applicable to all patients. In doing so the Government are responding to concerns of both the Health Select Committee and the Audit Commission, who have suggested that the laxity of the present patient declarations leave the way open for fraudulent claims. By asking all patients to sign the patient declaration we are taking an important first step in stamping out that abuse.

We are currently discussing with the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association and the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee about incorporating these changes into their terms of service. I hope to lay amending regulations in the summer.

There have been no additional printing and distribution costs. The changes were incorporated into the form during a regular print run. It has never been our practice to print prescription forms either in large print or in ethnic minority languages.