§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance her Department has given to regional health authorities concerning the frequency of issue of surgical footwear and the numbers of pairs to be issued at any one time to an applicant.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisRegional health authorities have been informed in the Appendix to Hospital Memorandum (71)94 that surgical appliances should be supplied in duplicate when (a) a patient would, when the appliance became unserviceable, be unable to continue his employment or would otherwise suffer hardship; or (b) the provision of two appliances is necessary on medical or hygienic grounds. Examples given of the need for duplication include surgical footwear and regional health authorities are told that the issue of a third pair may be authorised exceptionally where there are strong medical or occupational grounds, or where the patient would suffer hardship without them.
Advice to regional health authorities also states that the frequency at which replacements will be necessary cannot be arbitrarily determined as much will depend upon the individual circumstances and disability of the patient. The sole criteria for deciding whether replacement is justified should be the serviceability of the appliance and the continued clinical need.