HC Deb 19 March 1999 vol 327 c632W
Miss Widdecombe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans his Department has to supply copies of the British National Formulary to all essential users in Norfolk; [75910]

(2) what assessment his Department has made of the (a) economic and (b) safety implications of general practitioners prescribing without access to an up-to-date copy of the British National Formulary; [75911]

(3) what guidelines his Department lays down for the distribution of the British National Formulary to health care professionals. [75909]

Mr. Denham

Copies of the British National Formulary are distributed twice yearly free of charge to all health authorities and trusts. They are responsible for ensuring that it is passed to all essential users.

The Department recommends that all general practitioners, community pharmacists, hospital doctors, hospital pharmacists and health authority medical and pharmaceutical advisers should receive the formulary. In addition, where possible, there should also be a reference copy on each hospital ward and in each paramedic ambulance. The Department has no reason to believe these recommendations are not being followed.

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