Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of pethidine supplies in April 2023.

We are aware of supply issues with pethidine 50 milligram tablets until October 2023. However, alternative oral opioid analgesics remain available and clinicians who wish to continue to prescribe pethidine 50 milligram tablets can access these from specialist importers. Advice has been communicated to National Health Service healthcare professionals via the Specialist Pharmacy Service website. Pethidine injection remains available also.

While health is a devolved matter, we work closely with devolved Governments, suppliers, NHS England, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and other stakeholders to ensure patients continue to have access to the medicines they need.