OVER-MEDICATION OF THE ELDERLY

Early day motion 6, tabled 17 November 1999 by Paul Flynn (Labour). Signed by 66 members.

That this House is shocked by the evidence from the Alzheimer's Disease Society and Age Concern on the dangers of the over-medication of the elderly; is alarmed by reports that up to one in five admissions to hospital of the elderly are caused by the misuse of medicines and by investigations in England and Scotland that found most neuroleptic drugs used in care homes were wrongly prescribed; congratulates the School of Psychiatry of the University of Manchester on its study which resulted in reduced drug use in homes with no detriment to the mental and physical health of residents and savings of substantial sums on money that could be re-used to improve care services; and calls on the Government to replicate the reviews nationally in the interests of care home residents and staff.

Signatures by party: Labour 48, Liberal Democrat 14, Labour/Co-operative 3, UUP 1.