§ Lord Dixonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 8 December 1998 (WA 80) on provision of pen needles on prescription for all insulin-dependent diabetics, when the Secretary of State for Health will make his expected decision. [HL988]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman)My honourable friend the Minister of State at the Department of Health announced today that we hope to allow insulin pen needles and reusable insulin injection pens to be prescribed by general practitioners on the National Health Service. This would be contingent upon the addition of pre-filled, disposable, pens to Schedule 10 to the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992 (the "blacklist"), on which we are consulting interested parties. We are placing a copy of my honourable friend's announcement, and of the consultation letter, in the Library.