Written question asked by Mark Oaten (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 14 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 27 January 2005. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Thursday, 27 January 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practitioners are licensed to prescribe diamorphine; and how many there were in 1997. - Includes figures for practitioners who prescribe diamorphine for pain relief.

Answer: Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners are licensed to prescribe diamorphine; and how many there were in 1997. [209618] Ms Rosie Winterton: All general practitioners can prescribe diamorphine for pain relief. The number of registered general practitioners in 1997 was 29,389, compared to the latest available figure, for June 2004, which was 33,626. However, only doctors who hold a special licence issued by the Home Secretary may prescribe diamorphine for the treatment of drug addiction. As such prescribing is recognised as a highly specialised area of practice. Only a very small number of general practitioners, who work in the specialist area of drug dependency, hold such a licence.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 209618; 430 c549W
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Licensing Drugs General practitioners Medical treatments Misuse Prescriptions Pain Diamorphine
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk