NHS: Chiropody and Podiatry Services

Baroness Gardner of Parkes Excerpts

Tuesday 26th April 2011 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Baroness Gardner of Parkes]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure the continuing provision of training and practice in chiropody and podiatry services under new commissioning consortia and the National Commissioning Board.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe)]

My Lords, it is the responsibility of local National Health Service organisations to commission services to meet the needs of their community and the education and training necessary to deliver them, including the provision of chiropody and podiatry services. This will continue in the future.

[Baroness Gardner of Parkes]

I thank the Minister for that reply. Does he share my concern that GP consortia may lack the necessary strategic overview to prioritise longer-term preventive care options and ensure future podiatric care? Can he further clarify whether Health Education England, or some other body, will have full responsibility for seeing that adequate numbers of podiatrists and chiropodists are trained?