§ Mr. Peter RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the shortest period spent on a waiting list for(a) non-fundholder and (b) fundholder patients for the fitting of a prosthesis following the amputation of an arm in the last year for which figures are available. [17896]
§ Mr. WorthingtonNo one has had to wait longer than the three week timescale for the fitting of a prosthesis during the past 12 months.
§ Mr. Peter RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prostheses the Eastern Health and Social Services Board has contracted for in the current financial year; and what funds have been committed to purchase these services. [17903]
§ Mr. WorthingtonThe information is not available in the form requested. The Eastern Health and Social Services Board's contract with Green Park Healthcare 129W Trust is for prosthetic services not the provision of a specified number of prostheses. The value of the contract in the current financial year is £1,005 million.
§ Mr. Peter RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the longest current waiting time for(a) non-fundholder and (b) fundholder patients for the fitting of a prosthesis following the amputation of (i) an arm and (ii) a leg. [17898]
§ Mr. WorthingtonNo one is currently waiting outside the three week timescale for the fitting of a prosthesis.
§ Mr. Peter RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the allocation of resources of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board for the purchase of clinical procedures for(a) the fitting of a prosthesis following the amputation of a leg and (b) breast reconstruction following a mastectomy; and what account was taken of policy appraisal and fair treatment guidelines in determining these allocations. [17895]
§ Mr. WorthingtonIt is for the Eastern Health and Social Services Board to ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to purchase the level of services necessary to meet the needs of its population. The Board requires that all patients are treated on the basis of clinical priority.
§ Mr. Peter RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account the Eastern Health and Social Services Board took of the Government's Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment Guidelines in deciding on the allocation of resources for the purchase of procedures for the fitting of a prosthesis following the amputation of a leg; and what steps were taken to ensure that women and men were treated equally in the purchase of these services. [17911]
§ Mr. WorthingtonWhen allocating resources for the fitting of prostheses, the Board requires that all patients are treated on the basis of clinical priority.