Chiropodists (Hansard, 29 February 1960)

§ 5. Mr. Watts
asked the Minister of Health whether, when giving his approval to schemes submitted to him under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, by local authorities for chiropody services in their areas, he will make it a condition of his approval that existing chiropodists' private surgeries shall not be excluded from such schemes.

§ Mr. Walker-Smith
While the use of chiropodists' own premises was included in the guidance which has been issued to local health authorities, I do not feel that I would be justified in making it a condition of my approval of their arrangements for a service the cost of which falls on them.

§ Mr. Watts
Will any compensation be given to chiropodists who have been forced to close their private consulting rooms as a result of this free exclusive competition? Also, once the services are 812 clinic-based, in what way will the arrangement for a free choice of chiropodist be allowed to patients?

§ Mr. Walker-Smith
Most schemes by local authorities allow for the use of chiropodists' surgeries, although some authorities propose to provide the service exclusively from their own clinical premises or by domiciliary visits. Provided the service is satisfactory, I think I must leave the matter to the discretion of local authorities. I know of no cases of people going out of practice. There is a great deal of chiropody work to be done, and our difficulty so far has been the shortage of people to do it.

§ Mr. Watts
Has my right hon. and learned Friend forgotten the letter which I sent him saying that a constituent of mine had gone out of practice and asking whether he would get compensation? My right hon. and learned Friend wrote to me saying that no compensation could be given but gave no reasons for this.

§ Mr. Walker-Smith
There is no money out of which compensation can be given in such cases. It is possible for chiropodists in private practice to work on a part-time or sessional basis at a local health authority clinic. In other words, even if they cannot carry out the local authority service from their own premises, it does not necessarily debar them from participation.