PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
OVER MEDICATION OF THE ELDERLY (24 November 1998)

That this House is shocked by the evidence from the Alzheimers Disease Society and Age Concern on the dangers of the over-medication of the elderly; is alarmed by reports that up to one in five admissions to hospital of the elderly are caused by the misuse of medicines and by investigations in England and Scotland that found 54 per cent. and 88 per cent. of prescriptions of powerful neuroleptic drugs in care homes were wrongly prescribed; congratulates the School of Psychiatry of the University of Manchester on its study which resulted in reduced drug use in homes with no detriment to the mental and physical health of residents and savings of substantial sums on money that could be re-used to improve care services; and calls on the Government to replicate the reviews nationally in the interests of care home residents and staff.

Sponsored by:
Paul Flynn (Labour)