HL Deb 05 December 1994 vol 559 cc789-90

2.45 p.m.

Baroness Seear

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper. In so doing, I declare an interest as a grateful patient.

The question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the London Foot Hospital and School of Podiatric Medicine is threatened with closure because of a projected cut of between a quarter and a third of its budget, and what effect this will have on the quality of training of future chiropodists.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)

My Lords, the London Foot Hospital and School of Podiatric Medicine combine the provision of high quality comprehensive foot care with education, training and research. Local discussions are taking place which aim to retain those attributes but to achieve better value for money.

Baroness Seear

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her relatively encouraging reply. However, will she assure us that she recognises that practical training in chiropody is of the greatest importance? While it is desirable that chiropodists understand about feet, it is even more important that they know how to deal with them. It is essential that good practical training be closely related to theoretical training. Where the two aspects are connected geographically, it makes the matter a great deal easier than if the training is widespread. Training in any profession is a special skill. It is not satisfactory to assume that because a person is a good chiropodist he or she can also be a good trainer.

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, the noble Baroness is absolutely right.

Baroness Jay of Paddington

My Lords, I, too, must declare an interest as another grateful patient of the London Foot Hospital, which has made it possible for me, through what I believe is now called podiatry, to enjoy long country walks again. Is not this centre of excellence now being squeezed by the internal market? Is it not another example of the way in which the internal market is reducing services to patients?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, no. The hospital and training centre are unique in that the training is done through the trust which runs the services. In every other instance there is separation between the training of the chiropodist or podiatrist and the services given. The discussions taking place at present are to prevent the unit remaining isolated and to incorporate it into the university, as is the case with every other centre.