§ 25. Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the need for better chiropody care for the elderly, including prompt domiciliary chiropody visits when 907W necessary; and if he will ensure that adequate funds are available for this provision.
§ Mr. DeakinsChiropody services for the elderly, as well as for other priority groups, are expanding nationally as rapidly as the availability of State-registered chiropodists in full or part-time National Health Service employment permits. Domiciliary visits are made as promptly as staff numbers permit when they are justified, but they are time-consuming and it is the policy of my Department issued in guidance to health authorities that alternatives to domiciliary treatment should be provided wherever possible. These include the provision of transport to carry housebound patients to clinics and the provision of treatment in premises where the elderly and handicapped are already living together or are brought together, such as old people's homes, day centres and day clubs; patients should wherever possible be treated at health centres, community hospitals and general practitioners' surgeries, and greater use should be made of mobile chiropody clinics. It is for health authorities to determine what proportion of their financial resources should be devoted to their chiropody services, although an expansion of services has been urged upon authorities in policy documents issued in 1976 and 1977. The allocation of additional funds alone will not however solve the problem of inadequate services until such time as there are sufficient chiropodists available for National Health Service employment.