§ Dr. NaysmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to convene the New Prescribing Advisory Committee. [33501]
§ Ms BlearsWe are considering whether to establish a new advisory committee under the Medicines Act 1968 or whether to ask an existing committee, such as the Committee on Safety of Medicines, to make recommendations to Ministers on which prescription only medicines may be prescribed by new groups of prescribers. We are seeking the advice of the Medicines Commission and the Committee on Safety of Medicines.
331W
§ Dr. NaysmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to announce his timetable for commencing section 63, on the extension of prescribing rights, of the Health and Social Care Act 2001; [33502]
(2) when he expects to extend prescribing rights to registered optometrists. [33500]
§ Ms BlearsAs a first step towards implementing the provisions of section 63 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, the Department and the Medicines Control Agency plan to undertake a joint public consultation in the spring on proposals to introduce supplementary prescribing for nurses and pharmacists. We will consider extending prescribing responsibilities to other health professions in the light of developments on these proposals.