§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the chiropody services provided by the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleNo. I shall not be satisfied until every area health authority is able to provide a service to all those in the priority groups of the elderly, the handicapped, expectant mothers and children still at school who need chiropody treatment. Thereafter I look forward to an extension of the service to all who need it, but this is not possible yet. The service is expanding and the 235W number of full-time National Health Service chiropodists is increasing. A new chiropody school was opened in Durham in 1975, another will open in Huddersfield this year and yet another, it is hoped, in Plymouth next year, and there are tentative plans for others. Consultations are also taking place between my Department and that of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science to explore ways of expanding the output of trained chiropodists from existing schools.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria are used to determine priority groups for chiropody in the National Health Service; if a financial means test is used by any health authorities in deciding who should receive chiropody treatment; what authority they have for using such financial criteria; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThe priority groups are the elderly, the handicapped, expectant mothers and children still at school. Those were the groups to which free National Health Service chiropody treatment was restricted when health authorities took over responsibility for the community chiropody services from local authorities in April 1974 and this restriction of services continues. The long-term objective is that, as resources and staff become available and the chiropody service expands, rigid definitions of the priority groups should be eased.