Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of hoists in (a) GP and (b) Primary Care settings to ensure that patients with conditions that affect mobility are able to be examined.

No specific assessment has been made. General practitioner practices are required to ensure that their premises are suitable for the delivery of essential services and that these services are sufficient to meet the reasonable needs of their patients, including those with disabilities. In dental primary care settings, adults with moderate and severe physical disabilities, including those requiring specialised equipment such as hoists, may be referred to specialised dental services.