Health: Podiatry

House of Lords written question – answered at on 6 May 2014.

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Photo of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Shadow Spokesperson (Health), Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the impact on demand for NHS podiatry services resulting from England’s changing demography and health profile in (1) ten years’ time, and (2) 20 years’ time from now.

Photo of Earl Howe Earl Howe The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health

There has been no estimate made centrally of the impact on future demand for podiatry services due to changes in demography and health profile. Foot problems occur across the general population and their prevalence increases in older age. They cause discomfort and immobility and are recognised as a contributing factor to the loss of independence in old age. Foot complications are also much more common in diabetes. People with diabetes are more likely to be admitted to hospital with a foot ulcer than with any other complication of diabetes.

The Government is aware of the changing demography and health profile of the country. Currently there are 4.2 million people over 75 in England and this is expected to rise to 6.3 million by 2026, which will increase the need for all NHS services. This is why earlier this month the Department and NHS England published a joint plan Transforming Primary Care: Safe, proactive, personalised care for those who need it most, to provide personalised and joined up care.

The plan includes the Proactive Care Programme, which will offer 800,000 patients with the most complex health and care needs, such as elderly patients, with an enhanced service including: proactive, personalised care plans regularly-reviewed by general practitioners

(GPs), nurses, carers and other health professionals; a named GP responsible for their care around-the-clock and same-day access to a medical professional.

The plan builds on the role of primary care in keeping people well and independent. It explains how professionals across the healthcare system can work together to transform care to become more proactive and tailored to individual needs.

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