§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average length of the waiting list for an electrically powered(a) indoor and outdoor and (b) indoor NHS wheelchair in the North West; [106471]
(2) how many additional electric powered (a) indoor and outdoor and (b) indoor NHS wheelchairs will be made available in the North West for the year 1999–2000; [106474]
345W(3) what is the waiting time for electrically powered (a) indoor and outdoor and (b) indoor NHS wheelchairs in the North West; [106473]
(4) how many electrically powered (a) indoor and (b) indoor and outdoor NHS wheelchairs there are in the North West. [106472]
§ Mr. HuttonThe current forecast, at Q2, is that 398 electrically powered indoor and outdoor wheelchairs will be available in the North West for 1999–2000, compared with a year end figure of 331 for 1998–99.
Other information is not readily available on a regional basis. The following figures relate to North West Lancashire Health Authority area:
Forty-two electrically powered indoor and outdoor wheelchairs and 97 indoor National Health Service wheelchairs (including outdoor powered, attendant controlled NHS wheelchairs) will be made available to new recipients in 1999–2000.
There are currently 277 indoor (plus 17 outdoor, attendant controlled) and 981 indoor/outdoor electrically powered wheelchairs in North West Lancashire.
Nineteen people are awaiting home or clinic assessment for electrically powered wheelchairs and 41 for indoor NHS and outdoor attendant controlled, electrically powered wheelchairs.
The present waiting times for electrically powered indoor and outdoor and indoor NHS wheelchairs are 12 weeks and 40 weeks respectively.
1 Figure does not include all wheelchairs available for 1999–2000.