§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists; and what plans he has to meet the society in the near future. [87676]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 17 December 2002]: I met the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists on 1 May 2002.1 have no current plans for a further Ministerial meeting.
184W
§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the findings of the Feet First II review; and if he will make a statement. [87677]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 17 December 2002]: We have no plans at present to publish the review of 'Feet First', Since the review was undertaken our policy is now focused on patient-led National Health Service services rather than professionally-led guidance. We want to ensure that primary care trusts (PCTs) make service provision decisions on the basis of their local populations' clinical needs. The national service frameworks for older people and diabetes will help PCTs make these decisions and these have been developed with clinical input from chiropodists.
§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients on average were awaiting an appointment with an NHS chiropodist in England in 1997; and what the figure was at the last date for which figures are available. [87684]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 17 December 2002]: Data are not collected on numbers of patients waiting by the category of chiropody or podiatry.
§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to review the provision of chiropody services in the NHS. [87683]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 17 December 2002]: We have no current plans to review the provision of National Health Service chiropody services.