SCHIZOPHRENIA-TREATMENT PRACTICE GAP

Early day motion 150, tabled 16 July 2001 by Lynne Jones (Labour). Signed by 60 members.

That this House welcomes the Government's commitment to mental health and the improvements in provision made to date; welcomes the Zito Trust Report, The Practice Gap in Schizophrenia: Are People with Schizophrenia being given the best chance in life?; notes with concern the map in the report showing an almost 10 fold variation in prescribing rates of atypical antipsychotics, with their reduced side-effect profile; is alarmed that many patients are still being prevented from getting access to the most appropriate and effective treatments they need; welcomes the NICE appraisal currently underway into use of atypicals in the treatment of schizophrenia; urges NICE to take the opportunity to issue guidance which removes the practice gap by recommending the use of atypicals as a first-line treatment; and calls on the Government to ensure that sufficient resources are available to meet any increased cost of implementing the guidance.

Signatures by party: Labour 33, Liberal Democrat 17, Labour/Co-operative 5, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 1.