OVER MEDICATION OF OLDER PEOPLE USING ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS

Early day motion 554, tabled 11 December 2001 by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 44 members.

That this House notes with concern that up to 35,000 older people in nursing homes and as many as 55,500 people in residential homes are being prescribed antipsychotic medication for no medical reason; further notes that such medication can cause adverse side effects and misdiagnosis; believes this over-medication of the elderly to be a form of abuse that should be stopped; recognises that countries including Sweden, Australia and the USA have introduced new approaches to tackling and reducing the over-use of medication; calls upon the Government urgently to commission the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to produce guidance on the use of antipsychotics in care homes for older people; and calls for the National Minimum Standards for Care Homes and National Service Framework for Older People to be reviewed to increase the frequency of medication reviews and for the Department of Health to launch an awareness campaign targeted at phsychogeriotricians, general practitioners, care home managers and staff.

Signatures by party: Labour 20, Liberal Democrat 16, Labour/Co-operative 3, UUP 3, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.