§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to improve the present contracting system for the supply of appliances.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI am reviewing the contracting system and am very ready to consider any proposals which the trade organisations, or other interested bodies, may put to me.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to improve inter-disciplinary team work in the prescription and supply of orthotic appliances.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisIt is recognised that the team approach by surgeon or physician, orthotist, therapist, nurse and also the patient himself and his relatives has value in determining whether the patient requires an orthotic appliance at all, and, if so, how it should be prescribed and supplied. It is already adopted in some orthopaedic departments202W and encouraged in training courses for orthotists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists as well as for medical students.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to promote joint medical and para-medical education at both undergraduate and post-graduate level into the design and use of orthotic appliances.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisCopies of the report of the Orthotic Appliance Services Conference held in May of this year are being sent to the Royal College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of General Practitioners. Their attention is being drawn to the concern which was expressed at the conference about the apparent lack of knowledge of the prescription, design and use of orthotic appliances among some surgeons and other members of the medical profession. My right hon. Friend also referred to this when addressing the Sixth International Congress of Orthopaedic Associations of the English Speaking World in September. The Royal Colleges are being invited to consider whether there is a case for a further look at this aspect of medical training.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to improve feed-back from patients issued with orthotic appliances.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe assessment and evaluation of existing and new orthotic appliances and other aids for the disabled is a continuing process within my Department and in research centres. Valuable feed-back on patients' reactions to appliances also comes from voluntary organisations. More exhaustive surveys are conducted where necessary. An example is the survey among users of surgical footwear now being undertaken by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. My Department is also arranging for assessments both of orthotic appliances and other aids for the disabled to be carried out at rehabilitation demonstration centres. These assessments are intended to provide information as to which of the various types of appliances and aids available are best suited to the needs of patients with particular disabilities.
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§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking, following criticisms of the orthotic appliance services at the conference jointly organised by his Department and the National Fund for Research into Crippling Diseases.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe views expressed at the conference and the conclusions reached at it are receiving detailed consideration and, as my replies to my hon. Friend's other Questions today indicate, efforts are now being made to improve the orthotic appliance services within available resources along the lines the conference suggested.