Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to require GPs to carry out an annual check on all patients who have been prescribed opioids for chronic pain.

The Government has no plans to introduce a requirement for general practitioners (GPs) to carry out an annual health check on all patients who have been prescribed opioids for chronic pain or to introduce a helpline. People who have any concerns or questions about a prescribed opioid drug they are taking should seek help from a health professional in the first instance (such as a GP or pharmacist). Help and advice is also available from, for example, the 111 helpline or the online NHS Choices service.