Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reasons UK-manufactured pethidine supplies are not available as of 7 February 2023.

We are aware of supply issues with pethidine 50mg tablets until July 2023. However, alternative oral opioid analgesics remain available and clinicians who wish to continue to prescribe pethidine 50mg tablets can access these from specialist importers. Advice has been communicated to the National Health Service.