§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will appoint an upper limb amputee to be a member of his Advisory Committee on the investigation into limb prostheses; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will consider appointing a permanent adviser from outside his Department to give impartial technical and medical advice to the working party he has set up to investigate the supply of limb prostheses; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonWe have no plans to expand the working party on the services of artificial limb and appliance centres, which is free to seek the views and advice of amputees and experts as it thinks necessary.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what costs are borne by his Department for upper limbs which are manufactured and turn out to be unsuitable; and if he will make a detailed statement;
(2) what costs fall to his Department for lower limbs which are manufactured and turn out to be unsuitable; and if he will make a detailed statement.
§ Mr. NewtonAlterations required for reasons beyond the manufacturer's control are paid for by the Department. For example, a patient's stump may continue to change after measurements have been taken, even though the manufacturer has complied with the prescription and the limb has been delivered on time. Where the manufacturer is at fault alterations are carried out at no extra cost to the Department.