§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs prescribe drugs to combat heroin addiction, broken down by region. [82274]
§ Ms BlearsThe information is not available centrally in this form.
In the six month period ending 31 March 2001 around 35,100 clients were reported at drug treatment agencies in England.
Of these, around 1,700 or five per cent. were reported to be clients presenting to general practitioners.
The information on the breakdown by region is shown in table 15 of the Statistical Bulletin, "Statistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases for the six months ending March 2001". The full Statistical Bulletin is available in the Library and on the Department's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0207.htm
Table 15
Agency episodes reported by regional office area and health authority of treatment by type of agency during the period 1 October 2000–31 March 2001, provides information on the number of NHS funded general practices that have provided prescribing services to drug users by region.
526W
Number Northern and Yorkshire 322 Trent 140 Eastern 259 London 171
Number South East 564 West Midlands 104 North West 160 South West Not Available