§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received a report by the social survey division of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on patient satisfaction with National Health Service surgical footwear; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI am very pleased to announce that I have received this report by Sheila Bainbridge, which is being published by HMSO today.
62WIn the survey, which was commissioned by my Department, patients were asked for their opinions of surgical footwear which had been supplied to them under the National Health Service, and of the supply arrangements, 82 per cent. of the patients were satisfied with their footwear and 87 per cent. were satisfied with the supply arrangements. The supply of made-to-measure surgical footwear, often for people with seriously deformed or painful feet is a difficult task and I am glad to learn that the general level of satisfaction with the service appears to be high.
Nevertheless, the report sets out a number of criticisms of surgical footwear and the supply arrangements. My Department will be studying these in the light of comments from interested bodies, including some representing disabled people. There is certainly room for further improvement in the service and, as I explain below, certain actions have already been taken or are under way.
Many patients said that not enough pairs of footwear had been provided for them. Normally hospitals provide two pairs of footwear initially and replace them a pair at a time when necessary. However, we have now advised health authorities to regard the issue of two pairs as a minimum and to provide a third pair where needed.
Other criticisms concerned the standard of comfort and the durability of surgical footwear. My Department is represented on and works closely with the Training Council for Orthotists to raise the level of measuring and fittings skills. We also work closely with the British Standards Institution on a standard method of taking and recording foot measurements. At the same time, we are co-operating with the relevant industry training board in devising a suitable training scheme for surgical shoemakers with the aim of improving the supply of craftsmen to the industry.
As regards the appearance and function of surgical footwear, my Department is sponsoring a design competition organised by the Shoe and Allied Trades Research Association which it is hoped will produce styles which are more attractive whilst still fulfilling the essential orthopaedic requirements. Hospitals and suppliers have also been asked to pay particular 63W attention to the difficulty some disabled people have with traditional shoe fastenings and to incorporate zip or touch-and-close fasteners or other aids.
The report also refers to the problem of delay in the supply of footwear. This is a matter which my Department will continue to pursue strenuously both with health authorities and the suppliers.