§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) podiatrists and (b) chiropodists work in each of the primary care trust areas in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [36305]
§ Mr. HuttonWork force statistics collected on scientific, therapeutic and technical staff which includes chiropody/podiatry staff annually for all national health service organisations in England. The table shows the figures for primary care trusts only.
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NHS hospital and community health services (HCHS): Chiropody/podiatry staff working in primary care trusts, in England by regional office area as at 30 September 2001 All chiropody/podiatry staff Whole-time equivalents All Primary Care Trusts 940 Northern and Yorkshire 90 Trent 140 West midlands 20 North-west 160 Eastern 140 London 170 South-east 170 South-west 70
NHS hospital and community health services (HCHS): Chiropody/podiatry staff working in primary care trusts, in England by regional office area as at 30 September 2001 All chiropody/podiatry staff Headcount All Primary Care Trusts 1,170 Northern and Yorkshire 110 Trent 170 West midlands 20 North-west 200 Eastern 170 London 200 South-east 200 South-west 100 Notes:
- 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
- 2. Due to rounding figures may not equal the sum of component parts
Source:
Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for assistance to those people refused treatment by the Podiatry Service due to failing to meet the medical criteria yet incapable of looking after their feet; and if he will make a statement. [36297]
§ Mr. HuttonResponsibility for the provision of national health service chiropody/podiatry services rests with individual NHS organisations. It is for them to decide what criteria to apply to clinically prioritise access to chiropody/podiatry services but vulnerable groups of people such as older people, children and people with diabetes and those with learning disabilities should normally receive priority.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people used the Podiatry Service within the NHS in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what estimate he has made of how many people will be refused treatment by the Podiatry Service within the NHS as a result of the new guidelines; and if he will make a statement. [36298]
§ Mr. HuttonIn 2000–01, the latest year for which figures are available, 2.25 million people received national health service chiropody services. Information about patient contracts with the chiropody service in England is collected on Department's return KT23 and published each year. The latest publication "Chiropody services: summary information for 2000–01, England" is in the Library and is available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/kt230001.
The Department has not issued any guidelines to the national health service on the provision of chiropody/ podiatry services. It is the responsibility of local commissioners to determine the needs of their local population and provide services within available resources.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines the NHS has given to community care trusts with regard to the podiatry treatment to be offered to patients under the NHS; who set the criteria; whether the patient may challenge the criteria; and if he will make a statement. [36299]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department has not issued any guidelines to the national health service on the provision of chiropody/podiatry services. It is the responsibility of986W local commissioners to determine the needs of their local population and provide services within available resources. Therefore criteria, if set, will be determined locally. Patients can use complaints procedures about any treatment issue and in the first instance they should contact the complaints manager at the hospital concerned or their health authority.