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Written question asked by David Tredinnick (Conservative) on Tuesday, 17 January 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 24 January 2017 (named day). It was answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford (Conservative) on Tuesday, 24 January 2017 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Prescriptions

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Government's policy is on enabling GPs to prescribe products which they consider appropriate for their patients rather than placing statutory restrictions on products open for prescription.

Answer

A general practitioner (GP) is able to prescribe any product on the National Health Service they consider necessary for the treatment of their patient unless it is listed in Schedules 1 or 2 to the NHS (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc.) Regulations 2004. The Government is committed to the use of evidence-based therapies for NHS patients.

Schedule 1, commonly referred to as the blacklist, lists a number of drugs, medicines and other substances which GPs cannot prescribe on the NHS, for example, Ribena and some sun tan lotions. Schedule 2, commonly referred to as the greylist, lists drugs, medicines and other substances which GPs can only prescribe in certain circumstances on the NHS, for example influenza treatments for ‘at risk’ groups.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
60397
Session
2016-17
Subjects
General practitioners Prescriptions
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk