August 31st
Our ref: DE00000534894
Dear Mr Perrott,
Thank you for your further email copied to Anne Milton about addiction to over-the-counter medicine.
I should firstly point out the role of the Customer Service Centre is to respond to enquirers with an accurate and up-to-date statement of current Government policy. The Customer Service Centre works closely with policy colleagues who have lead responsibility for specific areas of health and social care policy. As you are aware, individuals who disagree with the elected government’s position or policy are able to raise this with their constituency MP who can lobby on their behalf. Complaints about the Department itself, the Customer Service Centre and its handling of correspondence, are dealt with separately. Information about how you may contact the Department’s Complaints Manager is available here:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/ContactUs/ComplaintProcedures/DH_076486
I appreciate that you have written to the Department on numerous occasions about the Department’s ongoing review of addiction to medicine, and in dealing with your correspondence, the Customer Service Centre has provided the most accurate information possible. However, you will appreciate that this work is ongoing and the information given to you is currently the most up-to-date available.
With regard to your comments about the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, I should emphasise that the Ombudsman is completely independent of both the Department and the Government.
Finally, I am unable to comment on the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, as it has its own processes, independent of the Department.
I hope this reply clarifies the Department’s position.
Yours sincerely,
Jacky Buchan
Team Leader
Department of Health