Members considered a motion in relation to children and young people on Fluoxetine (Prozac), notice of which was given in accordance with Standing Order A14.

It was proposed by Councillor Parrott and seconded by Councillor Stockman:

That this Council asks the Mayor to make use of the new close ties between the partners of the Health and Wellbeing Board, and the Director of Public Health and her access to both the Clinical Commissioning Group and GPs, to find out how many Bay children and young people (under the age of 18) are or have been prescribed the strong anti-depressant Fluoxetine (Prozac) and the quantities of the drug involved, and report back to Council on the following basis:

Total numbers of prescriptions (scripts) and or quantities of the drug, for each of the past three years (2011, 2012, 2013);

Numbers of children/young people prescribed Prozac by age groups (5-11 years, 12-16 years, 17-18 years);

Numbers of treatments by duration i.e. up to six months, up to two years, indefinitely; and

Numbers of diagnoses for each main category i.e. Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorders.

And that the mayor calls for this information as a matter of urgency in view of the serious side effects of taking Prozac which can include:

Suicidal thoughts

Confusion

Agitation

Excessive sweating

Seizures

Arrhythmia

Palpitations

Insomnia

Headaches

Anxiety

Stunted growth

Crying

In accordance with Standing Order A14.3(a), the motion stood referred to the Mayor.

The Mayor advised that that he supported investigation of the use of anti-depressants to get a clear picture of the situation within Torbay and referred the matter to the Health and Wellbeing Board for their consideration.