§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients with drug problems had treatment withdrawn by GPs in(a) 1999 to 2000 and (b) 2000–01 at the latest date for which figures are available; [136652]
(2) how many general practitioners ceased to offer treatment for drug related problems to patients addicted to drugs in (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 at the latest available date. [136525]
§ Ms StuartThis information is not held centrally. However, the number of episodes of treatment for drug misuses reported by National Health Service funded general practitioners to the regional drug misuses166W databases in England rose from 1,341 to 1,790 between the six month periods ending 31 March 1999 and 30 September 1999. An episode starts when a drug misuser presents to a particular agency for treatment for the first time or after an interval of six months or more.