§ 25. Mr. Abseasked the Minister of Health what is the average delay for barium X-rays or enemas for in-patients and out-patients, respectively, at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport; and what steps are being taken to end the delays.
§ Miss PittAll urgent cases are X-rayed immediately; other in-patients are X-rayed within a week; for non-urgent out-patients there has been hitherto a delay of four to eight weeks, but the recent appointment of an additional consultant radiologist should largely eliminate this.
§ Mr. AbseWould not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it would be very difficult, since these techniques are used for diagnosis, to anticipate whether out-patient cases were urgent or not? May I express the hope that these arrangements will prove effective, since they may be not only costly as far as beds are involved but quite clearly can be very relevant as far as out-patients are concerned?
§ Miss PittThe new arrangements have mentioned have already brought down the waiting list for out-patients at the Royal Gwent Hospital for barium meals from 271 in October to 38, and the number waiting for barium enemas has dropped from 63 to 48. We expect in a month's time that even this position will still further be improved.