Setting a strategy for health.

The artificial limb and appliance centres were criticised in a report published in 1987 to the Department of Health by a committee chaired by Lord McColl. The committee suggested that the service could be improved Useful addresses: by raising the technical standards of amputation; by setting up specialist The Royal Association For Disability and multidisciplinary hospital teams that would work in close cooperation with Rehabilitation (RADAR), 25 Mortimer Street, the medical staff at the centres and take an active part in rehabilitation; by London Wl 8AB, tel: 071-637 5400 giving more responsibility to prosthetists and encouraging them to be British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's responsible for continuing care; and, finally, by restructuring of Association (BLESMA), 185-187 High Road, management. Some changes have already been implemented -such as the Frankland Moore House, Chadwell Heath, integration of the service into health regions with integrated budgets. Essex RM6 6NA, tel: 081-590-1124 Prosthetists may now tender for provision and service contracts, thus National Association for Limbless Disabled allowing them to become independent of the major suppliers of artificial (NALD), 31, The Mall, Ealing, London, W5 limbs. 2PX, tel: 081-579-1758/9 The demands of amputees on the medical and associated services will vary according to their independence. Some will need little medical help; a new elderly amputee, however, will require extensive support and supervision ifhe or she is to be discharged from an acute hospital and return