Health written question – answered at on 25 February 2008.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of UK demand for diamorphine has been met by the NHS's normal suppliers in each of the last five years; how shortfalls in supply have been addressed; and if he will make a statement.
The supply picture for diamorphine injection (ampoules) for the national health service in England for the years 2002 to 2006 is shown in the following table.
Diamorphine injection supplied by year: England: hospital and community | |||||
Units in thousands | |||||
2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | |
l0 mg (total) | 1,218 | 1,271 | 1,275 | 552 | 682 |
l00 mg (total) | 410 | 440 | 451 | 169 | 141 |
30 mg (total) | 839 | 872 | 908 | 408 | 557 |
5 mg (total) | 1,366 | 1,448 | 1,444 | 496 | 218 |
500 mg (total) | 30 | 37 | 29 | 20 | 22 |
In March 2007 the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) estimated the following availabilities, against historic demand, by strength:
Percentage | |
5 mg | 26 |
10 mg | 84 |
30 mg | 100 |
100 mg | 31 |
500 mg | 100 |
A combination of the analyses highlights that there has been a significant recovery in the supply of 10 mg and 30 mg strengths against historic demand.
However, prescribing of these two strengths has not returned to original levels and there has been an excess in the supply of these strengths against current demand as a result.
In the case of the 5 mg and l00 mg strengths the supply position has not recovered. There is an ongoing shortage of these strengths and it is not possible to estimate true current demand as a result.
When the shortage of diamorphine first arose in December 2004, the remaining supplier immediately increased its production, and the Department took steps to ensure that adequate supplies of alternative painkillers were available. In addition, the Department issued an alert to the national health service via the chief medical officers cascade system, warning health care professionals about the shortage and advising them to avoid wastage, and to consider alternative painkillers wherever possible and reserve diamorphine supplies for those patients whose need was greatest. Both suppliers are now fully in production. The supply situation improved during 2007, and is expected to continue doing so during 2008.
Yes1 person thinks so
No6 people think not
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Annotations
John Nightingale
Posted on 26 Feb 2008 10:59 am (Report this annotation)
I give it 60%! In other words it does not quite answer the question as set unless the initiated can read between the lines which I can't.
Whether its deficiencies are the result of sloppy thinking or the difficulty of finding the data on which this tough question can be fully answered I don't know.
if you are not satisfied, Lynne, I hope you will come back.
Best wishes,
John Nightingale