§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) in what ways eligibility criteria for chiropody waiting 485W lists have changed in the last two years; and how many patients have been removed from waiting lists as a result of changes in eligibility criteria; [155869]
(2) how many patients who were previously on chiropody waiting lists have been removed from these lists as a result of a change in the eligibility criteria for the waiting lists; [155449]
(3) how the eligibility criteria for chiropody waiting lists have changed in the last two years. [155450]
§ Dr. Ladyman[holding answers 23 and 24 February 2004]: Primary care trusts, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, have the responsibility for improving the health of the community, securing the provision of high quality services, and integrating health and social care locally. They have the resources to commission services and to identify the number of professional staff that they need to deliver those services. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including setting eligibility criteria for chiropody/podiatry services. Information on waiting lists for these services is not collected centrally.