§ Captain Kerbyasked the Minister of Health whether he will give an estimate of the annual cost to the National Health Service of the hearing aids, false limbs, invalid chairs, etc., which are written-off annually owing to the death of the patients to whom they were issued, and for the return of which to the National Health Service by the next of kin of the deceased no provision exists in his regulations.
§ Mr. TurtonThis information is not available.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that no provision exists in his regulations to compel relatives to return hearing aids, 83W false limbs, invalid chairs, etc., after the death of the National Health Service patient to whom they were issued, he will now amend these regulations so as to ensure that all such appliances are returned to the National Health Service on the death of the patient to whom they were issued.
§ Mr. TurtonI see no reason to alter the present arrangements, as at present an annual check is carried out to ensure the recovery of wheelchairs and tricycles when they are no longer required and there would be no justification for the expense involved in arranging for the recovery of other appliances that cannot be used again.