Asked by: Lord Patel of Bradford (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the reasons for the 32 per cent rise in the number of deaths from heroin or morphine abuse between 2012 and 2013; and how many of the 765 people who died as a result of heroin or morphine abuse in 2013 had left drug treatment in the month that preceded their death.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
At this stage it is not possible to draw any definitive conclusions about a longer-term trend in deaths from one year’s data. Public Health England is currently analysing the data to better understand the reasons for the increase.
Asked by: Lord Patel of Bradford (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the "overall policy objective" referred to at paragraph 21, page 9 of their consultation response <i>Proposed changes to NHS availability of erectile dysfunction treatments—changing prescribing restrictions for generic sildenafil</i>.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
On 25 June 2014, the Department published the Government’s response to its consultation, Proposed changes to NHS availability of erectile dysfunction treatments: changing prescribing restrictions for sildenafil, a copy of which has been placed in the Library and which is available at:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/322464/ED_Cons_response.pdf
This explains the overall policy objective of amending Regulations governing National Health Service provision of some treatments for erectile dysfunction in a way that has benefits for patients, is affordable for the NHS and is consistent with European Union legislation.