Pat McFadden MP Wolverhampton South East Representing Bilston South, Bilston North, East Park, Ettingshall North, Ettingshall South and Spring Vale, Bentley and Darlaston North, Darlaston South, Willenhall South.
Pat McFadden MP recently tabled some parliamentary questions about chiropody provision in the NHS, asking for a comparison between the number of NHS chiropodists employed when Labour left office compared to today. The Department of Health confirmed in the answer that between 2010 and last year there was a drop of 369 or 12% in England during this period.
The following table shows the number of chiropodists employed at National Health Service trusts and CCGs as at October 2019, the latest available data compared to October 2010, full time equivalent.
October 2010 October 2019 Change % Change 3,072 2,703 -369 12%
These figures show that although we have had a lot of talk from the Government about austerity being over that is not the case.
It means people waiting longer, sometimes in pain, for much needed treatment. It also adds hugely to the pressure under which the remaining chiropodists are working.
Of course all eyes at the moment are on the response to Coronavirus but these figures show that parts of the NHS had been severely cut back even before the virus appeared.