Anti-depressants: Cost, Risks and Ramifications

Lord Kennedy of Southwark Excerpts

Wednesday 11th December 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Alton of Liverpool]

To ask His Majesty’s Government how many individuals have been prescribed anti-depressants by the NHS in England in the past 10 years, at what cost, and what assessment they have made of the risks and ramifications.

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, we are still waiting for the Minister, my noble friend Lady Merron, to arrive to answer the first Question, which I am very sorry about. I did tell people that we were not starting this afternoon with Prayers, so I am somewhat embarrassed to be standing here to tell the House that we shall have to wait a few moments for my noble friend to arrive. [Interruption.] Thankfully, I have no information, so I shall keep talking on the basis that at some point my noble friend Lady Merron will arrive and answer the Question before us.

[A noble Lord]

Filibustering.

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

Absolutely.

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

May I express my gratitude to the Chief Whip for reminding me that there were no Prayers?

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

My noble friend Lady Merron is now here.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

I apologise to your Lordships’ House and am grateful to my noble friend the Chief Whip, as ever.

In 2023-24, 8.7 million identified patients were prescribed anti-depressants at a cost of £220 million, compared with 2015-16, when the cost was £270 million for prescriptions to 6.88 million people. The NHS Business Services Authority reports patient prescribing data on an annual basis rather than a running total. All licensed anti-depressants meet robust standards of safety, quality and efficacy, constantly reviewed by the MHRA.