§ Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Health if he will give a list of the different appliances supplied under the National Health Service, with the number and value of each, for the year 1951, or the latest available period.
102W
§ Mr. CrookshankStatistical information in the form asked for is not available and the cost of providing it would be disproportionate to its value. The great variety of appliances supplied to patients through the hospitals in England and Wales during the 12 months ending 21st December, 1951, can, however, be broadly grouped under the following headings for which the numbers and cost are given below:
Appliance Number supplied in 12 months Cost £ New surgical footwear 46,465 395,000 Appliances for lower limbs 28,280 156,000 Trusses 19,085 35,000 Abdominal appliances 107,282 375,000 Suprapubic and kindred appliances 15,570 55,000 Appliances for upper limbs 3,593 12,500 Spinal supports 58,656 410,000 Head and neck appliances 11,732 58,000 Elastic hosieries 35,520 80,000 Wigs 9,756 125,000 Prostheses (artificial breasts, ears, eyes, noses, etc.) 11,715 29,000 Artificial arms 1,937 51,500 Artificial legs 11,383 330,000 Artificial arm appliances 4,058 15,000 Artificial eyes 7,682 12,000 Invalid chairs and tricycles 10,108 685,073