Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to introducing a helpline for any patients who have been prescribed opioids to seek advice.

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.