§ Mrs. GordonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to increase the availability of(a) osteopathy and (b) chiropractic treatment in the NHS. [84728]
§ Ms JowellThe availability of osteopathy and chiropractic treatment within the National Health Service, as with any other form of treatment, reflects decisions taken by health authorities, trusts and primary care groups about the clinical and cost effectiveness of such services and the priority to be given to their provision in the light of local health needs. As primary care groups have only recently been established, we shall be studying the use that they make of all forms of complementary medicine.