asked the Minister for Health if he has reduced the budget available to each of the health boards under the heading of medical aids, for example, in cases where a health board officer indicates that a wheelchair will only become available when a wheel-chair patient dies; and if he will make a statement on the basic guidelines for this service.
Written Answers. - Medical Aids Funding.
209.
No, I have not. The detailed apportionment of each health board's annual financial allocation is primarily a matter for that board and its management team. However, I understand that expenditure relating to these types of medical aid items has been maintained at the same level as in 1987, and there has been no reduction in the resources allocated by the health boards for these items.
The criteria for the issue of a wheel-chair are based in all cases on the specific circumstances of the individual concerned. Each case is assessed on it's merits by the health board's professional staff and a decision on whether to allocate a wheelchair is based on their professional assessment.