§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Carmarthen, Official Report, 14 April, column 525–6, whether the number of chiropody treatments has increased in the light of a continually lengthening interval between treatments in a population receiving treatment that has increased steadily; what is now the average interval between treatment for elderly citizens; what has been the average interval for each of the past five years; and what is his analysis of the extent to which this lengthening of intervals between treatments and the increasing irregularity of treatment produces chronic irreversible immobility.
§ Sir George YoungInformation is not available in the form requested. The available figures for England are as follows:
Year Total number of persons Total number of treatments given Average number of treatments during the year per person treated 1974 … 1,279,000 4,589,000 3.587 1975 … 1,182,000 5,113,000 4.325 1976 … 1,248,000 5,352,000 4.288 1977 … 1,324,000 5,434,000 4.104 1978 … 1,393,000 5,372,000 3.856 Given the extent of variation likely both between health districts and in the clinical needs of individual patients, I do 653W not consider that any generally valid conclusions can be drawn from these figures about the adequacy of the treatment given.