§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the target date is for the availability of morphine sulphate by NHS prescription in each primary care trust area; in what areas it is already available; and when guidelines will be published on the prescription of morphine sulphate. [171928]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonMorphine sulphate is available on national health service prescription and was prescribed in all primary care trust areas in 2003.
Guidance on the prescribing of morphine sulphate is given in the British National Formulary, a copy of which is supplied to all NHS doctors and pharmacists. Advice on the use of morphine sulphate in specific medical conditions has also been published in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletins, the MeReC Bulletins and in PRODIGY guidance for primary care, which are widely distributed free of charge to NHS professional staff.