PEN NEEDLES ON PRESCRIPTION FOR DIABETICS

Early day motion 37, tabled 17 November 1999 by Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 97 members.

That this House welcomes the Government's proposal to put refillable insulin pen injection devices and pen needles on prescription and notes that this will benefit over 250,000 people who currently have to purchase their own needles; notes however the serious misgivings of the British Diabetic Association about the proposal to blacklist disposable pens that will deprive an estimated 50,000 diabetics of their chosen method of injecting insulin as disposable pens will become prohibitively expensive if only available privately; and therefore calls on the Government to reflect carefully on representations from medical professionals who are concerned that some among the 50,000 affecting diabetics will not be able to switch to refillable pens without requiring assistance or endangering their health in the absence of such help.

Signatures by party: Labour 51, Liberal Democrat 25, Conservative 7, UUP 5, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 2.