Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce overprescribing.

In September 2021, the Government published its review of overprescribing ‘Good for you, good for us, good for everybody’, ‘National overprescribing review report’. The review report evaluated the extent, causes and consequences of overprescribing and made recommendations to address it. A copy of the report can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-overprescribing-review-report

Led by the National Clinical Director for Prescribing, NHS England and partner organisations are working to implement long term, sustainable reductions to overprescribing. This work includes: t

The development of national resources to help practices improve the consistency of repeat prescribing processes, supported by training;

the publication of NHS England’s prescribed medicines review report, ‘Prescribed medicines review: summary’ which includes information to help systems support patients who take medicines associated with dependence and withdrawalwithdrawal; and

interventions to reduce polypharmacy. A copy of the report can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prescribed-medicines-review-report/prescribed-medicines-review-summary