§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the standards and conditions prevailing in the prosthetics industry in the United Kingdom; if he is satisfied with the advances being made to meet the increasing and more sophisticated needs of the badly disabled;if he is satisfied with the training of people who work in the industry; what examination they are expected to pass; and what in-service training they have to keep up with advances in the field.
§ Mr. RossiWe are broadly satisfied with the standards and conditions prevailing in the prosthetics industry in England—which is the extent of our responsibility—which provides a good service for the great majority of amputees. Continual research is undertaken to improve the range of prosthetic techniques and devices, and new developments are in hand to meet the needs of limbless people. The Department is looking into areas in which improvements could without doubt be made, in consultation with the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association and representatives of the industry.
The four-year course of training for prosthetists has since 1968 been organised by the British Institute of 78W Surgical Technicians in conjunction with the United Kingdom Centre for Bio-Medical Technology at Paddington Technical College includes academic work and practical instruction; examinations are held at the end of each year, and the final certificate requires the successful completion of each examination and of a furl her year of practical work in a limb fitting or orthotic department. All prosthetists providing services to the Department are required to have completed this course or to have been trained to an equivalent standard. They receive further training as required when new prosthetic developments are introduced into the limb fitting service. Others engaged in the manufacture of limbs undertake such apprenticeship or other training as is appropriate to their trade.
The Orthotics and Prosthetics Education and Training Council was established in 1981 as an independent body, on which the Department is represented, to monitor all aspects of training in prosthetics and to promote and approve training courses.