§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average life of an artificial limb before it requires complete replacement.
§ Mr. DorrellFive years.
§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many artificial legs are supplied annually by the national health service.
§ Mr. DorrellApproximately 16,600 per annum.
§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of St ate for Health which companies supply artificial legs to the national health service and what proportion of this market each company holds.
§ Mr. DorrellThe names of the companies and the proportion of the market each holds is as follows:—
142W
Per cent. Chas A Blatchford & Sons Ltd 28 F H Cossins & Son (Leeds) Ltd 2 Dorset Orthopaedic Co Ltd 2 John Drew (Midlands) Ltd 4 LIC Care Ltd 9 Oxford Prosthetics Ltd 4 Prostech Ltd 3 Prosthetics UK Ltd 2 Rehabilitation Services Ltd 5 Hugh Steeper Ltd 12 James Stubbs & Sons Ltd 3 Technology World Incorporated (UK) Ltd 12 Vessa Limited 14
§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost to the national health service, on an annual basis, of the provision and service of artificial legs.
§ Mr. DorrellThe cost to the National Health Service of the provision and service of artificial legs in 1989–90 was £31.401 million and in 1990–91 it was £33.236 million.