§ 25. Miss Herbisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the greatest time that a patient has had to wait in Lanarkshire for a major thoracic operation; and how many have had to wait this period.
§ Mr. J. StuartNo tuberculous patient has been on the present waiting list for more than six months, except one whose operation was postponed at her own request and who has now been waiting eight months. Five patients have been waiting six months, three of whom have had their operations postponed on medical grounds.
§ Miss HerbisonDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that six months is a very long time for any patient to wait—especially one suffering from tuberculosis, which has very depressive effects? To wait such a long time for an operation is very bad. What steps does he or his Department propose to take to cut down this waiting time?
§ Mr. StuartThe waiting list in the region has been reduced from 404 in May, 1954, to 172, which shows that steps have been taken. In Lanarkshire arrangements are being made to transfer a number of patients from Hairmyres to a ward in Wester Moffat Hospital, Airdrie, which is at present being redecorated.