HC Deb 08 November 1983 vol 48 cc69-70W
Mr. Corbett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will list in the Official Report the annual amount of grant made by National Health Service health authorities by name to the Birmingham general dispensary to help maintain its foot clinic, in each of the past five years;

(2) what, in each of the last five years, has been the total amount of spending on chiropody services by the National Health Service in each of the Birmingham health districts;

(3) what, in each of the last five years, were the number of full-time and part-time chiropodists employed by the National Health Service in each of the Birmingham health districts;

(4) what, in each of the last five years, was the waiting list for chiropody treatment on the National Health Service in each of the Birmingham health districts; and what is the average time patients have to wait for treatment in each district.

Mr. John Patten

Central information on the total NHS expenditure incurred in the hospitals and community health chiropody services in Birmingham is available only as follows:

£
Birmingham area health authority (teaching) 1978–79 208,654
1979–80 230,883
1980–81 278,039
1981–82 342,391
Central Birmingham health authority 1982–83 84,233
East Birmingham health authority 1982–83 43,895
North Birmingham health authority 1982–83 51,871
South Birmingham health authority 1982–83 46,271
West Birmingham health authority 1982–83 92,344

Information is not held centrally on waiting lists and times for chiropody treatment in health districts nor on the amount of National Health Service grants made to the Birmingham general dispensary. I suggest that the hon. Member contacts the local health authorities about these matters and about the number of full and pan-time chiropodists they employ.