§ 16. Mr. Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total number of attendances at outpatient departments in all hospitals in Scotland for the past year at any convenient date.
§ Mr. T. G. D. GalbraithIn 1959 there were 7,385,000 attendances at the outpatient departments of Scottish hospitals.
§ Mr. HannanIs the hon. Gentleman aware that these figures increase year by year? Is he further aware of the great economic waste in the time which patients have to put in at these outpatient departments? Does the hon. Gentleman receive representations from hospitals? Will he say why these figures have been omitted from the annual reports since 1956?
§ Mr. GalbraithI would like notice of that last question. The hon. Member will be glad to know that at this moment a survey is being conducted designed to show what improvements are required in the appointment system to prevent patients from having to wait too long.
§ Mr. HannanReports were asked for in 1956 and in 1957. Is not this just further time wasting? Action was called 867 for as long ago as four or five years. It is not a report but action which is needed by the hon. Gentleman's Department.