§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Kay Committee Report on Artificial Limbs will be published; if he will arrange for an exhibition of all high quality limbs now available in the world to be held in the United Kingdom; and if he wil make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonWe expect to make an announcement about limb research and development very soon.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that over a thousand mycoelectric arms and hands have been fitted in Austria, details of which have been sent to him; if his Department has investigated the success of these arms and hands; what exchange of information has taken place on this subject betwen Great Britain and Austria; and if he wil make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonSamples of Austrian myoelectric arms and hands have been examined by the Department's experts, who have expressed reservations about certain features. It is proposed to discuss these and the experience gaind of supplying myolectric limbs in Austria when representatives of the Department visit the country in the near future.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is aware of the visit of Professor Ernst Marquardt, of Heidelberg University Hospital, to a seminar from 24th–31st July on the German version of the myoelectric 48W limb, details of which have been sent to him; if he will rarange for appropriate experts to discuss developments in Germany on the myoelectric limb; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he is aware of the visit of Professor Franco Zarotti of Bologna to a seminar from 24th to 31st July on the Italian version of the myoelectric limb, details of which have been sent to him; if he wil arrange for appropriate experts to discuss developments in Italy on the myoelectric limb; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonAs I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member on 11th MBay it is our normal practice to keep in touch with developments of powered limbs in other countries.
Visits by our experts to certain overseas countries, including Germany and Italy, to study myoelectric and other limbs developments have been planned to take place in the next few months. These visits are likely to prove more fruitful than discussions aranged at short notice with visitors to the United Kingdom.—[Vol. 817, c. 72.]
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the optimism of the reports of the Chief Medical Officer from 1964–69 regarding the development of myoelectric arms and hands he is satisfied with the research, development, clinical atrial and actual production of myoelectric arms in this country; and if he wil make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonThis research, which has been pursued for many years, is continuing at a satisfactory rate. Whether this form of control will ultimately be to the real advantage of patients is still in doubt.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the clinical trials will take place regarding the work done at the biomechanical research and development unit on modular assembly prosthesis; when this equipment will go into production; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonClinical trials began in May and will continue until October. A decision on production depends upon evaluation of their results in the light of the merits of other available modular assembly systems.
49W
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider giving more help and assistance on artificial limbs to the unit at Chailey Heritage; what further financial help he is giving to encourage work at this centre; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonMy right hon. Friend is always willing to consider sympathetically proposals for helping centres engaged on the design and improvement of artificial limbs for patients whose needs cannot be met by standard prosthesis. He understands that an application for financial assistance to the Chailey Heritage unit will shortly be made to him.