Artificial Limb & Appliance Service
Encyclopedia
The Artificial Limb & Appliance Service (ALAS) is an NHS Wales organisation providing support, equipment and rehabilitation to people with permanent or long-term impairment. It is commissioned by Health Commission Wales (an executive agency of the Welsh Assembly Government
), and is provided through a consortium arrangement between three NHS Wales trusts, each hosting one centre (ALAC). The centres are situated in:
(precursor to the British Ministry of Defence
) set up a service in Roehampton
to deal with the needs of military amputees.
From the 1960s, the service had expanded and was operated by the UK Government's Department of Health and Social Security
for a largely civilian population. By then, wheelchair
supply and other related disablement services had been added to the remit. The majority of service users were elderly individuals who often had disabilities due to systemic medical conditions.
In 1984 the British government set up the McColl working party to review and report on the quality and management of disablement services in England. In 1986 it recommended a new management board should be set up to manage their efficiency and cost effectiveness. As a result, the Disablement Services Authority (DSA) was set up in England to manage the 49 Artificial Limb & Appliance Centres (ALACs) through regional and district health authorities by 1991. ALAC services were transferred to the National Health Service
in England in July 1991.
After a period of consultation, it was agreed the Welsh Health Common Services Authority (WHCSA) should assume operational management responsibility for the services in April 1988. The Artificial Eye Service in Wales remained under Welsh Office
management until it too was transferred to the WHCSA in 1993. At the time, it was agreed that the transfer should be for an interim period - April 1988 to April 1991. There would then be further consultation with the wider NHS in Wales.
In 1995 the Secretary of State
decided that the management of ALAS should transfer to the University Hospital of Wales
, Morriston
and Wrexham
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
), and is provided through a consortium arrangement between three NHS Wales trusts, each hosting one centre (ALAC). The centres are situated in:
- CardiffCardiffCardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
at Rookwood HospitalRookwood HospitalRookwood Hospital is a rehabilitation hospital situated in Llandaff, in the city of Cardiff in South Wales. It is the site of one of only twelve spinal rehab units in whole of United Kingdom...
(part of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board) - SwanseaSwanseaSwansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
at Morriston HospitalMorriston HospitalMorriston Hospital is a 750 bed hospital located in Cwmrhydyceirw near Morriston in Swansea, Wales. Morriston is the largest hospital in the city and county of Swansea and is operated by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board. Alongside its role as a district general hospital, Morriston...
(part of the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board) - WrexhamWrexhamWrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
at Maelor Hospital (part of the North East Wales NHS TrustNorth East Wales NHS TrustNorth East Wales NHS Trust is an NHS Trust in Wales. The headquarters of the Trust is in the Maelor Hospital, in Wrexham. It was founded on 1 April 1999, when the NHS Trusts in Wales were reconfigured...
)
History
The Artificial Limb & Appliance Service originated during the First World War. The War OfficeWar Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
(precursor to the British Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
) set up a service in Roehampton
Roehampton
Roehampton is a district in south-west London, forming the western end of the London Borough of Wandsworth. It lies between the town of Barnes to the north, Putney to the east and Wimbledon Common to the south. The Richmond Park golf courses are west of the neighbourhood, and just south of these is...
to deal with the needs of military amputees.
From the 1960s, the service had expanded and was operated by the UK Government's Department of Health and Social Security
Department of Health and Social Security
The Department of Health and Social Security was a ministry of the British government in existence for twenty years from 1968 until 1988, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Social Services.-History:...
for a largely civilian population. By then, wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
supply and other related disablement services had been added to the remit. The majority of service users were elderly individuals who often had disabilities due to systemic medical conditions.
In 1984 the British government set up the McColl working party to review and report on the quality and management of disablement services in England. In 1986 it recommended a new management board should be set up to manage their efficiency and cost effectiveness. As a result, the Disablement Services Authority (DSA) was set up in England to manage the 49 Artificial Limb & Appliance Centres (ALACs) through regional and district health authorities by 1991. ALAC services were transferred to the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
in England in July 1991.
After a period of consultation, it was agreed the Welsh Health Common Services Authority (WHCSA) should assume operational management responsibility for the services in April 1988. The Artificial Eye Service in Wales remained under Welsh Office
Welsh Office
The Welsh Office was a department in the Government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Wales. It was established in April 1965 to execute government policy in Wales, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Wales, a post which had been created in October 1964...
management until it too was transferred to the WHCSA in 1993. At the time, it was agreed that the transfer should be for an interim period - April 1988 to April 1991. There would then be further consultation with the wider NHS in Wales.
In 1995 the Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
decided that the management of ALAS should transfer to the University Hospital of Wales
University Hospital of Wales
University Hospital of Wales , opened in November 1971, is a major 1000-bed hospital situated in the inner city district of Heath in Cardiff, Wales...
, Morriston
Morriston
Morriston is a community in the City and County of Swansea, Wales and falls within the Morriston ward. Morriston is sometimes referred to as a distinct town , however Morriston never had a town charter, and is now part of the continuous urban area around Swansea, the centre of which lies three...
and Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...