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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Nov 1994

Vol. 447 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Chiropody Services.

Hugh Byrne

Question:

291 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of chiropodists employed full time by each of the health boards; the numbers of chiropodists employed full time and part time by the South-Eastern Health Board; the amount of money spent on chiropody services by the South-Eastern Health Board in the year 1993 to 1994; the amount budgeted for in the year 1994 to 1995; the number of medical card holders getting chiropody treatment in the South Eastern Health Board region; the number of chiropodists recognised by the South Eastern Health Board for giving such treatment; the total number of members of the society of chiropodists and pediatrists, the institute of chiropodists and the Irish chiropodists organisation; the qualifications of each organisation; the reason only members of the society of chiropodists and pediatrists are recognised by his Department for health board work; the progress, if any, to date towards allowing members of the other professional bodies access to health board patients; the plans, if any, he has to broaden the profession and allow access by medical card holders to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3024/94]

Chiropody services are generally provided on a sessional basis. The number of chiropodists employed by the health boards in 1993, expressed in wholetime equivalents, is as follows:

Health Board

Wholetime Equivalent Total

Eastern

5.55

Midland

2.44

Mid-Western

1.93

North-Eastern

0.40

North-Western

4.00

South-Eastern

1.64

Southern

4.09

Western

2.20

Total

22.25

The South Eastern Health Board does not employ chiropodists on a full time basis. The board provided £36,828 for sessional chiropody in 1993 and has a sum of £59,476 budgeted for the service in the current year. The service is provided by the board in its long-stay hospitals and day care centres, where virtually all patients are medical card holders. The South-Eastern Health Board also provides chiropody services on a non-patient basis in the Kilkenny area where 688 patients were treated in 1993 and in excess of 700 patients have been treated in 1994, to date.
Chiropodists employed on a sessional basis by the South-Eastern Health Board are drawn from the list of chiropodists held by the Chiropodists Assessment and Advisory Committee. There are over 500 chiropodists practising in Ireland whose membership and qualifications are as follows:

Organisation

Qualification

Membership

(a)

The Society of Chiropodists and Pod- iatrists

B.Sc. (Podiatrists) (3 year full time course)

105

(b)

The Institute of Chiropodists

Licentiate in Chiropody/Higher Diploma in Chiropody

32

(c)

The Irish Chiropodists Organisation

Qualification awarded by ICO

400

The members of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists are the only chiropodists recognised for the provision of chiropody services in the public health service. This is on the basis that they have undertaken a three year full-time, comprehensive course of training.
My Department is currently examining the possibility of establishing a revised assessment mechanism for chiropodists, and I shall be in contact with each of the three organisations involved in due course.
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