Nhs Chiropody Services

EDM number 408 in 1997-98, proposed by Angela E Smith on 06/11/1997.

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.

This motion has been signed by a total of 66 MPs.