§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 24 June 2002,Official Report, column 735W, on chiropody, whether the shift in policy focus referred to has led to service reductions; and if he will make a statement. [66849]
§ Jacqui SmithWe are not aware that the shift in policy focus from professionally-led guidance to patient-led services has led to service reductions. Shifting the balance of power has placed increasing emphasis on involving frontline staff including chiropodists and podiatrists, and consulting with users and carers to ensure services meet the needs of the local population. Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for ensuring the right services are delivered to the right people at the right time.
To assist PCTs meet this increasing demand for national health service chiropody/podiatry services, we are committed to recruiting more allied health professionals (AHPs), which include chiropodists/ podiatrists, through the NHS Plan target of over 6,500 extra AHPs, and as extended and stated in the "Delivery Plan", there will be 30,000 extra therapists and scientists over the September 2001 baseline by 2008.