§ Lord Rowallanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the 1999 budget for limb provision within the National Health Service; and how this is split between components and overheads; and [HL3891]
What was the budget for limb provision within the National Health Service in 1997; and [HL3892]
By how much the budget for overhead costs in limb provision for the National Health Service has been increased or decreased between 1997 and 1999; and [HL3893]
By how much the budget for limb component provision within the National Health Service has been increased or decreased between 1997 and 1999; and what this is as a percentage; and [HL3894]
Whether they will break down the costs between clinical care, service accommodation and administrative costs for limb provision within the National Health Service for each of the years from 1979 to 1999. [HL3895]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman)The total cost of artificial limb services, extrapolated from sample service costs for 1998–99, is currently £65 million. Having reviewed Disablement Service Centre contracts and predicted levels of annual uprating, the NHS Supplies Authority estimates that prosthetic company 217WA contracts now amount to around £36 million which includes around £9.7 million for components. The balance covers the NHS costs of clinical care (including multidisciplinary teams), service accommodation and administrative costs.
The budget for prosthetic company contracts in 1997 was £32.7 million. Information on NHS budgets for artificial limb services during 1997 is not available.
In the absence of data on the 1997 NHS budget the variation cannot be provided.
Between 1997 and 1999 the budgets for prosthetic company contracts have increased from £32.7 million to £36 million, representing an approximate 10 per cent. increase. Component costs remain consistent at around £9.7 million.
We are unable to provide data or the breakdown as requested between 1979 and 1999.
§ Lord Rowallanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the supply company providing the new range of silicone covering materials currently being developed for the National Health Service. [HL3896]
§ Baroness Hayman"RSL Steeper" has developed a new range of silicone materials for artificial limbs for potential supply to the National Health Service.