Written question asked by John Baron (Conservative) on Wednesday, 8 September 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 October 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 October 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the reasons are for the differences between the system of monitoring foot operations carried out by orthopaedic surgeons and that for monitoring operations carried out by podiatric surgeons; and what plans he has to standardise such monitoring systems. - (Holding answer 13 September 2004).

Answer: Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons are for the differences between the system of monitoring foot operations carried out by orthopaedic surgeons and that for monitoring operations carried out by podiatric surgeons; and what plans he has to standardise such monitoring systems. [188665] Miss Melanie Johnson :[holding answer 13 September 2004]: Minor procedures to the feet are generally performed on an out-patient basis, that is, without admitting the patient. There is currently no mandated collection of data on out-patient procedures, regardless of which type of professional is responsible for the work. Any data collected locally are outside of departmental requirements and the decision to collect and monitor such information rests with the front line organisations.

Secondary information