Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 13 May 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 June 2002. It was answered by David Lammy (Labour) on Thursday, 13 June 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what powers doctors possess to prescribe drugs in contravention of local authority policy; what drugs have been prescribed by doctors against local authority policy; how many people have received drugs against local policy in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Hancock: :To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers doctors possess to prescribe drugs in contravention of local authority policy; what drugs have been prescribed by doctors against local authority policy; how many people have received drugs against local policy in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [56708] Mr. Lammy: :The prescribing duties of general practitioners are set out in the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992. Schedule 10 and Schedule 11 of these regulations list the drugs which may not be prescribed by GPs. Local NHS bodies have no power to introduce additional statutory restrictions. Hospital specialists are expected to prescribe within the terms of local service agreements. We do not collect detailed information about local prescribing policies.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 56708; 386 c1427-8W;386 c1428W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Doctors General practitioners Powers Prescription drugs Prescriptions
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk