§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will call for a report on the ending of the home chiropody service in the Nottingham district health authority area.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe criteria for domiciliary (home) chiropody services in Nottingham health authority are being reviewed. Approximately 25 per cent. of chiropody service contacts have previously been in the domiciliary setting. The most effective way of delivering chiropody treatment is by concentrating on—
- (1) a service in health centres and clinics;
- (2) in conjunction with attendance at out patient clinics and day centres;
188 - (3) a home service for those who are housebound by disability and/or have no means of transport to clinics.
The review is intended to deploy the available resources more effectively and ensure that more treatments are carried out overall and that the domiciliary service is concentrated on those patients who are truly in need of treatment at home.
All patients on the domiciliary list have been visited and given a letter by a chiropodist explaining that the domiciliary service as previously deployed is being suspended and all patients on the list reviewed. Where patients can attend a local clinic session or the treatment can be combined with day centre attendance this is being arranged. If patients are in need of continuing home treatment this will carry on as before. There will be written confirmation to patients who will be remaining on the home treatment list and this will reach them once the backlog of letters due to the industrial action by the postal services in Nottingham is cleared. In these circumstances I consider that the further action called for is not necessary.