HC Deb 18 January 1996 vol 269 cc755-6W
Mr. Gallie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what consultations he has had with health authorities concerning the funding of indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs in Scotland; [8626]

(2) what consultations he has had with user groups concerning the funding of indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs in Scotland over the last 12 months. [8627]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The national services division of the Common Services Agency which is responsible for centrally purchased services set up a working group in early 1995 to look at the future provision of artificial limb and appliance services, which includes the wheelchair service. The working group was made up of representatives from trusts, health boards and all artificial limb and appliance centres; from training, therapy, supplies and primary care interests; a consumer sub-group and a consultation network. It concluded that funding for ALAC services should be devolved to health boards, a recommendation I have approved.

Mr. Gallie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the criteria for qualifying for a publicly funded indoor/outdoor powered wheelchair in Scotland. [8628]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Patients must meet the following criteria:

  1. 1. for medical reasons, be severely and permanently restricted in mobility;
  2. 2. be unable to walk;
  3. 3. be unable to propel a manual wheelchair;
  4. 4. have no problems with visual, cognitive, visuo-spatial or other higher cortical functions or other medical conditions, which would make them a danger to themselves, pedestrians or other road users;
  5. 5. have the ability to comply with the DVLC requirements for motor vehicle drivers concerning epilepsy and other causes of loss of consciousness;
  6. 6. have visual acuity of at least 6/24 (can read a car number plate at 40 ft) and have a field of vision of 120ºin a horizontal plane and 20ºabove and below this plane (equivalent to class 3 vehicle visual standards);
  7. 7. have demonstrated in a driving test and by other means that they have the insight, intellectual capacity and dexterity to operate an electrically powered indoor/outdoor chair (EPIOC) safely and responsibly on their own and without assistance;
  8. 8. have a residential environment which is compatible with the use of an EPIOC, and which includes a storage area with a power supply for a battery charger;
  9. 9. have a local outside environment which is accessible by an EPIOC and compatible with its use;
  10. 10. be able to ensure that an EPIOC will be maintained adequately either personally or by a carer;
  11. 11. have the capacity to derive significant improvement in their independence and quality of life through use of an EPIOC.

Mr. Gallie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs provided by health authorities in Scotland. [8630]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Information on the overall number of powered chairs issued in the last five years is not held centrally. Details of the number of indoor/outdoor powered chairs and indoor powered chairs purchases since the provision of special funding in 1992 are as follows:

1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96
Indoor/Outdoor 313 267 286 193
Indoor — 2497 409 187
1For 6 months 1 April 1995–30 September 1995.
2For the 24 month period 1 April 1992–31 March 1994.

Mr. Gallie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what funding arrangements exist for indoor/outdoor powered wheelchair provision in Scotland; [8631]

(2) what plans he has to continue to honour the Government's obligation to maintain the funding of indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs in Scotland. [8629]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

It was announced in February 1992 that special funding of £2.5 million would be made available in Scotland over the following three years for the provision of indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs.

Funding has since been renewed and will be included in the funding of artificial limb and appliance centres which is being returned to health boards in 1996–97 through the weighted capitation formula. Notification of the notional allocation for each board was included in the financial allocations for 1996–97.

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