§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will estimate the(a) number and (b) percentage of over 75 year olds affected, and the cost to the NHS and the number of bed days lost from hospital wards from older people experiencing an adverse reaction or being prescribed inappropriate medication in the last 12 months; [65140]
(2) how many older people died from (a) experiencing an adverse reaction and (b) being prescribed inappropriate medication in the last 12 months. [65139]
§ Mr. LammyThe Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) receive reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) submitted by doctors, dentists, pharmacists and coroners via the Yellow Card Scheme by doctors, and there is a legal requirement for companies to report 'suspected' ADRs to their drugs. In 2001, a total of 21,350 reports of 'suspected' ADRs were received through this scheme of which 1,964 ( 9 per cent.) occurred in patients over 75 years of age. The number of reports received via the yellow card scheme does not directly equate to the number of people who suffer adverse reactions to drugs for a number of reasons including an unknown level of under reporting. It is important to note that the reporting of a reaction does not necessarily mean it was caused by
New registrations with the GMC in 2001: place where primary medical qualification obtained U.K. European Economic Area Rest of world Percentage Percentage Percentage Full registration 4,462 50 1,237 14 3,088 36 Provisional registration 4,279 94 188 4 103 2 Limited registration n/a n/a 2,720 Total 8,741 54 1,425 9 5,911 37 Source:
General Medical Council