The following written answers were received from Malcolm Chisholm
(Scottish ‘Parliament’ Health Minister) earlier today in response to
questions submitted regarding NHS podiatry provision.
****
Q: Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish
Executive what the difference is between service redesign and rationing in
relation to chiropody treatment.
A: Malcolm Chisholm: Successful service redesign across NHSScotland is
essential if patients' needs are to be met in a sustainable way. The issue
of access to NHS chiropody services is a matter for clinical decision in
the light of the health needs of individual patients. The planning and
provision of NHS services is a matter for NHS boards.
Q: Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish
Executive what the eligibility criteria are for people to be entitled to
free chiropody care.
A: Malcolm Chisholm: The planning and provision of NHS services is a matter
for NHS boards. The issue of access to NHS chiropody services is a matter
for clinical decision in the light of the health needs of individual
patients.
Q: Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish
Executive how many patients in each NHS board area have been removed from
NHS chiropody lists in each of the last six years.
A: Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the number of patients removed from NHS
chiropody lists is not available centrally.
Q: Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish
Executive what provision has been made for the foot care of those who have
been removed from NHS chiropody lists.
A: Malcolm Chisholm: The planning and provision of NHS services is a matter
for NHS boards. The issue of access to NHS chiropody services is a matter
for clinical decision in the light of the health needs of individual
patients.
Q: Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish
Executive which NHS boards operate a preventative-screening programme for
schoolchildren, through their podiatry departments, to examine abnormal
gait as a causal factor in osteoarthritis, back pain and posture-related
disorders.
A: Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally.
Q: Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish
Executive whether the ability to pay is taken into account in removing
elderly patients from NHS chiropody care lists.
A: Malcolm Chisholm: No.
****
There is a subtle but very important shift here - that of responsibility
for delivering care. Are politicians washing their hands of the National
Health Service and who takes the blame for failing to implement the
Sutherland Report?
Best wishes
Mark Russell
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