Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in view of the consumption of codeine for pain relief, whether they have any plans to extend the remit of the Public Health England inquiry into prescription drug addiction and dependence to include over the counter painkillers.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
Information on the number of people in England currently addicted to prescription opioids is not collected centrally. The Government is concerned about the impact of long term use of prescription drugs. The Department has commissioned Public Health England (PHE) to undertake an evidence review to better understand the scope of the problem of prescribed drug dependence.
The review will bring together the best available evidence on prevalence and prescribing; the nature and likely causes of dependence or discontinuation syndrome among some people who continue to take these medicines; and effective prevention and treatment responses for each condition for which they are prescribed. There are no plans to extend the remit of the PHE evidence review to over the counter painkillers.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published the guideline Controlled drugs: safe use and management in April 2016 which covers systems and processes for using and managing controlled drugs safely in all NHS settings except care homes. The guideline includes recommendations to improve working practices to comply with legislation and aims to reduce the risks associated with controlled drugs, including dependency, overdose and diversion. The NICE guideline provides authoritative guidance that reflects the latest available evidence and will allow healthcare professionals, including general practitioners, to make informed decisions about the prescription and optimal use of medicines which have the potential to cause dependency. A copy of the NICE guideline is attached.
The recently-updated national clinical guidelines for drug misuse and dependence have specific guidance about pharmacological management of dependence on benzodiazepines and z-drugs, including prescribing regimens, detoxification, adjunctive therapies and monitoring. A copy of these guidelines, Drugs misuse and dependence: UK guidelines on clinical management is attached.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people in England they estimate are currently addicted to prescription opioids, excluding cancer patients.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
Information on the number of people in England currently addicted to prescription opioids is not collected centrally. The Government is concerned about the impact of long term use of prescription drugs. The Department has commissioned Public Health England (PHE) to undertake an evidence review to better understand the scope of the problem of prescribed drug dependence.
The review will bring together the best available evidence on prevalence and prescribing; the nature and likely causes of dependence or discontinuation syndrome among some people who continue to take these medicines; and effective prevention and treatment responses for each condition for which they are prescribed. There are no plans to extend the remit of the PHE evidence review to over the counter painkillers.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published the guideline Controlled drugs: safe use and management in April 2016 which covers systems and processes for using and managing controlled drugs safely in all NHS settings except care homes. The guideline includes recommendations to improve working practices to comply with legislation and aims to reduce the risks associated with controlled drugs, including dependency, overdose and diversion. The NICE guideline provides authoritative guidance that reflects the latest available evidence and will allow healthcare professionals, including general practitioners, to make informed decisions about the prescription and optimal use of medicines which have the potential to cause dependency. A copy of the NICE guideline is attached.
The recently-updated national clinical guidelines for drug misuse and dependence have specific guidance about pharmacological management of dependence on benzodiazepines and z-drugs, including prescribing regimens, detoxification, adjunctive therapies and monitoring. A copy of these guidelines, Drugs misuse and dependence: UK guidelines on clinical management is attached.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to encourage retired general practitioners to work part-time for the NHS; and, if so, on what terms and conditions.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
Health Education England’s Induction and Refresher (I&R) Scheme gives general practitioners (GPs) who have retired the opportunity to return to general practice. The scheme is also open to those who have taken a career break or spent time working abroad.
On 6 October 2016, NHS England set out the latest measures it is implementing to help general practice cope with increasing demand, boosting GP numbers and tackling burnout as part of the General Practice Forward View, a copy of which is attached. This includes increased financial support, increased practical support and making the process more flexible. For example, working to develop a national framework so that suitably qualified and experienced doctors can be added to the Medical Performers List without the need to complete the I&R process.
On completion of the I&R Scheme, GPs may take up a post as a salaried general practitioner. There are model terms and conditions of service for a salaried general practitioner, a copy of which is attached.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the renewal of accreditation has been granted to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence announced on 26 February 2016 that the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network has been re-accredited until 31 March 2020.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will produce quality standards based on the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network regarding the management of chronic pain.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has advised that it has been asked to develop a quality standard on pain management in young people and adults.
The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guideline 136 on the management of pain has been identified as a possible development source alongside existing NICE guidance on pain management.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is planning to publish guidelines on the treatment of chronic pain; and if so, when.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published several clinical guidelines on different health conditions which include the treatment and management of pain and chronic pain.
These include low back pain (CG88) and neuropathic pain (CG173). The clinical guideline on low back pain is currently being updated, with an expected publication date of November 2016. Copies of these guidelines have been attached.
NICE has been asked to develop a clinical guideline on pain management for young people and adults, but the schedule for this work has yet to be finalised. The provisional schedule will be made available on the NICE website in due course.