§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will collect a sample of the discharge rates, whether complete or not, of NHS podiatry services, to enable the Government to estimate how many patients could reasonably be accepted into NHS foot care services. [155985]
§ Dr. Ladyman[holding answer 23 February 2004]: National health service foot care services are provided on the basis of assessed clinical need. 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 489W 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 the provision of chiropody/podiatry services.
We are committed to reducing bureaucracy in the NHS and commissioning such a study would not be cost effective.