PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
NHS CHIROPODY SERVICES (6 November 1997)

That this House notes with concern that more than 17 NHS trusts, from Cornwall to Edinburgh, have announced significant reductions in chiropody services; understands that such service reductions will adversely affect the mobility and quality of life of tens of thousand of patients, mostly the elderly and disabled; further notes that chiropody is one of the most popular NHS services for the elderly who are often those least able to afford private treatment; endorses the findings of a survey undertaken by the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists which found that 92 per cent. of honourable Members agree that chiropody should be a core service within the NHS and that 87 per cent. of honourable Members believe the same level of NHS chiropody service should be available irrespective of where patients live; also notes spending on commissioned chiropody services by health authorities varies from ú1 to ú6 per head; and calls on the Government to examine the haphazard pattern of service provision that is emerging and begin to take action to ensure that a comprehensive, consistent, needs-led service is reinstated.

Sponsored by:
Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat)