§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the recommended interval between domiciliary chiropody visits for the elderly; and what are the usual intervals between such visits for each area health authority in both the Mersey and North West Regional Health Authorities.
§ Dr. OwenThere is no nationally recommended interval between domiciliary chiropody visits for the elderly. No area health authority in the Mersey Region make recommendations on intervals; visits are arranged according to need. In the North Western Region, details are as folows:
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§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the annual cost of chiropody in the National Health Service for 1975–76.
§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions he has issued to regional and area health authorities on the provision of chiropody services for the elderly for 1976–77, 1977–78 and thereafter.
§ Dr. OwenThe Department's guidance circular HRC(74)33, issued in April 1974, which outlined arrangements to be made for the management and provision of chiropody services following National Health Service reorganisation, asked health authorities to continue to give priority to the elderly and certain other groups, viz. the handicapped, expectant mothers and also schoolchildren. The Department's recently published consultative document "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England" proposes that national expenditure on chiropody services, nearly all of which are delivered to the elderly, should be increased by 3 per cent. per annum between 1975–76 and 1979–80.
The Department is currently consulting the chiropody professional bodies with a view to issuing a good practice circular to health authorities to suggest how, within available resources, the best use could be made of their chiropody services both currently and in the longer term.
The Department also hopes to issue a memorandum of guidance to local and health authorities shortly concerning the health care of residents in old people's homes, which includes advice on the provision of chiropody services.
§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the number of full-time equivalents in chiropody employed by each regional health authority up to 30th September 1975.
§ Mr. DeakinsI would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to her on 2nd April: the 1975 returns are still not yet complete.—[Vol. 908, c.609.]