HC Deb 28 January 1957 vol 563 cc656-8
17. Mrs. Slater

asked the Minister of Health if he will now give permission for the city of Stoke-on-Trent to undertake a chiropody service to aged people.

Mr. Vosper

I regret that I cannot do so at present.

Mrs. Slater

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Stoke-on-Trent, like other large areas, the problem of dealing with aged sick and people who cannot get out is very serious and puts a heavy strain on other services provided by the local authority? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is estimated that about 25 per cent. to 70 per cent. of old people suffer from the need for chiropody, and if this could be provided other services could be relieved?

Mr. Vosper

I have considerable sympathy with what the hon. Lady has said. I do not underestimate the need, but sufficient resources are not available to reconsider the matter.

Dr. Summerskill

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to reconsider it for this reason? If he establishes chiropody services, particularly in some of the industrial areas, that inevitably will relieve pressure on the hospitals. Is he aware that there are other Questions on the Order Paper asking for services for aged people and that this service would immediately help to solve the other problems?

Mr. Vosper

I do appreciate that the welfare and domiciliary services may well relieve problems in the hospitals, but at the moment I have not available the considerable resources needed to start nationally a service of this nature.

18. Mrs. Slater

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities are giving chiropody service to old people.

Mr. Vosper

Four under the National Health Service and many at homes for the aged and infirm established under the National Assistance Act, 1948.

Dr. Stross

Is it not a fact that any local authority can establish a service of this type, but not directly—it has to be done by giving a grant to a voluntary agency? If that is the case, why is it not possible to allow the local authority to do it directly?

Mr. Vosper

I speak subject to correction, but I think local authorities can establish such a service under the National Assistance Act in old people's homes; but any service provided generally would be grant-aided, and I am not in a position to meet such requests at the moment.

Mrs. Slater

If the local authority could establish such a service in old people's homes, does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that very few old people could be dealt with? Is he aware that old folk who are tied to their homes and cannot get out need home helps, sick visitors and other assistance for their relief, whereas if they could be made mobile it would relieve the whole of the services dealing with the aged? Does it not seem foolish that, as in the case of Stoke-on-Trent, we were told by the former Minister that we can make a grant—which we do—to the meals on wheels service to provide a chiropodist service? Does that not seem a round-about way of doing the job?

Mr. Vosper

I hope my original Answer shows that I appreciated much of what the hon. Lady said, but I cannot make any further announcement at the moment.