§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give the number of complaints and adverse representations he has received about the supply of oxygen from hospitals, domiciliary patients, general practitioners, dispensing chemists, professional organisations and others over the past three years; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many representations he has received in each of the last five years concerning the supply of domiciliary oxygen in cylinders; of these, how many have commented adversely on the cost of such suppliers; from whom such representations have emanated; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeSince 1 July 1981 we have received only three complaints, all from or on behalf of individual patients, about the domiciliary oxygen service. In the last five years approximately 40 representations have been made that concentrators should be available through the family practitioner services as a cost-effective alternative to cylinders. Since the announcement earlier this year of our intention to secure a good, cost-effective oxygen service for the future, we have received over 100 representations, mostly from hon. Members on behalf of their pharmacist constituents, inquiring about the continued involvement of pharmacists in the service.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the last five years there have been any reports from auditors in the National Health Service concerning the cost of supplying domiciliary oxygen through cylinders; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThere have been no reports in the last five years from NHS auditors concerning the domiciliary oxygen service.