§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on anticipatory prescribing following the observations made by the Commission for Health Improvement following publication of their report 'Portsmouth Healthcare NHS Trust at Gosport War Memorial Hospital'. [80113]
§ Ms BlearsThe Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) expressed serious concerns about anticipatory prescribing of medicines to older people on two wards in Gosport War Memorial hospital in 1998. During the course of its investigation in 2002, the CHI welcomed the introduction and adherence to policies regarding the administration, review and recording of medicines. Anticipatory prescribing was no longer evident on these wards
The decision when and how much to prescribe is a matter for the clinical judgement of the doctor caring for the patient