§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will describe his Department's policy for prescribing, providing and maintaining environmental controls for disabled persons; and if he will make a statement.
(2) what is his policy for prescribing, providing and maintaining communication aids for disabled persons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiThe Department provides environmental control and typewriter control equipment to patients who are permanently so paralysed or so disabled by disease, injury or congenital defect that they are unable to carry out simple tasks, such as ringing a bell or switching on a light and who but for the typewriter control equipment, additionally are unable to communicate satisfactorily. The Department relies on the decision of regional, or in some regions, area medical officers as to a patient's eligibility. RMOs/AMOs are in turn advised by a consultant medical assessor.
If eligibility is established arrangements are made for the supply and installation of the equipment. Certain installation costs are met by the Department and others by the patient or his agent. The Department ensures that all equipment provided under these arrangements is serviced and maintained as described in my reply to the hon. Member's other questions of today on this subject.
The provision of other environmental control equipment and communication aids is a matter for health and social services authorities in accordance with their powers and duties and their own procurement arrangements.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will describe the role of the medical and paramedical profession in providing environmental controls for disabled people by his Department; what conditions are imposed upon the receivers and suppliers of such equipment; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will describe the role of the medical and paramedical profession in providing communication aids for disabled people by his Department; what conditions are imposed upon the receivers and suppliers of such equipment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiThe Department provides environmental and typewriter control equipment to severely disabled patients who meet certain eligibility criteria. All applications for provision must originate with either a hospital consultant or general practitioner and eligibility is determined by a medical assessment. Other health service personnel and staff in social services departments who are concerned with disabled people not only refer patients whom they consider eligible to an appropriate medical practitioner but they also assist in the important process of determining which input mechanisms and outputs will best meet individual needs.
The following conditions are imposed on the receiver of this equipment: that the equipment,
- (a) remains Government property
- (b) must not be disposed of, nor in any way altered or added to, without the authority of the Department
- (c) must be kept in good running order and cleaned and serviced, as prescribed in the instruction booklet
- (d) must not be used by anyone other than the patient, or for
293 any purpose other than that for which it is provided - (e) should at all times be reasonably safeguarded against damage.
For maintenance purposes the supplier contracts to undertake one comprehensive inspection and servicing of the equipment per year: to undertake repairs and maintenance which may at any time be required to keep the equipment in working order—including, in the event of a complete breakdown, a 48-hour service—and to conduct an inspection of the equipment at any time required by the Department.