§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, column 562, if he will specify the total cost of prescriptions issued per practice divided by the number of patients on the list for (a) the totality of general practice fundholders and (b) non-fundholders for each year. [15983]
§ Mr. MaloneI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 13 February, column 562. Information split between fundholding general practitioners and non-fundholding general practitioners is readily available only nationally. Analysis below the national level would involve special computer programming and substantial cost.
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of prescriptions issued in the latest year for which figures are available; what was the total revenue from prescription charges in connection with those prescriptions; and what was the average charge per prescription in that year. [15873]
§ Mr. MaloneSome 456 million prescription items were dispensed in England in 1994. We estimate that for over 80 per cent. of these items, the recipients were exempt, charges were remitted, or were not payable. The time at which income is brought to account means that items dispensed in 1994 correspond most closely to receipts for the financial year 1994–95. Charge income in 1994–95, including income from prescription prepayment certificates, was £287 million. The charge for each prescription item was £4.25 from April 1993 and £4.75 from April 1994.