§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) pursuant to his reply of 19th June indicating that myolectric hands are not new, why no provision has been made for disabled children in the United Kingdom before Dr. Sorbye developed them in Sweden;
(2) pursuant to his reply of 19th June, indicating failure to provide thalidomide children with adequate artificial arms, what steps were taken by his Department after the examination of myolectric hands in the late 1960s and the experiments with gas-powered arms, to develop better prostheses; and what research was undertaken specifically for children in the programme referred to;
(3) pursuant to his reply of 19th June, how many myolectric hands from Sweden have been reserved for his Department;
(4) why he is unable to say how many children will eventually be provided with myolectric hands if the current trials are successful; and if he will make an estimate.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI hope very much that Dr. Sorbye's new approach will prove wholly successful. My hon. Friend can be assured that I shall do everything I can to ensure that it is. It will however take some time to evaluate the298W employees into qualified medical personnel, nurses, ancillary hospital staff and administration personnel.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe number of employees by staff group in the National Health Service in England at 30th September 1974 and at 30th September 1976 were:
results of the trials on which we are now embarking. With regard to our previous experience with powered arms, I very much regret that the developments were not as successful as we had hoped. Many patients have, however, derived much benefit from body powered prostheses. While a conference on these in 1974 identified no need for major developments, my hon. Friend may like to know that there is a continuous programme of product development linked to the needs of patients of all ages.
To start our trial with the new myoelectric hand for children, we have ordered 26 hands from the current production batch and more may be ordered later. At this stage, it is not possible to make any reliable estimate of the numbers of children who will eventually be provided with the hand. We shall need further experience of the clinical and other factors involved and more detailed information, which is being obtained, about potential users.
I hope my hon. Friend may be able to join me in a visit to Roehampton or Manchester to see the progress of our trials.