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Regional Medical Officers

Volume 807: debated on Monday 30 November 1970

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asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated amount of the savings in prescription costs which will be achieved in a full year as a direct result of the work done by regional medical officers, during the year ended 31st March, 1970, in discussing prescribing matters with doctors.

The savings cannot be fully quantified; but statistical information strongly suggests that the visits are currently securing annual direct savings of considerably more than £1 million net.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the total working hours of the regional medical officers was, during the year ended 31st March, 1970, spent on investigating the prescribing of doctors, and discussing with doctors their prescriptions.

Visits specifically to discuss prescribing matters, including the prescribing of drugs of dependence, occupied rather under 5 per cent. of regional medical officers' time.