Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Artificial Limbs – 21 January 1987

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Artificial Limbs on 21st January 1987.

Mr. Dobson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many limbs were fitted at artificial limb and appliance centres in each month since January 1985;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report the progress made towards implementing each of the recommendations of the McColl report;
(3) how many prosthetist appointments at artificial limb and appliance centres have been postponed due to failure to supply limbs in time because of the Hangers dispute;
(4) if he will list the organisations and individuals whose reaction to the McColl report has been obtained during the consultation period; and what are the main conclusions he draws from that consultation;
(5) when the McColl review of artificial limb and appliance centre services was completed; when he first received the report; and why the report was not published until 27 January 1986.

Mr. Major I shall let the hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.

Mr. Dobson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the reforms of the artificial limb service initiated by the National Health Service management board.

Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to the detailed account I gave during the debate in the House on 26 November, at columns 330-332, of the steps we have been taking to improve the artificial limb service.