§ 9. Mr. Rhodesasked the Minister of Health how many patients are on the waiting list for the Urological Unit at the Newcastle General Hospital; how many were on the waiting lists in July, 1964 1108 and 1963; and what steps are to be taken to improve the situation.
§ 42. Mr. Randallasked the Minister of Health when he received proposals from the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board to improve the urological service; to what extent they take account of a waiting list in excess of 1,000 and an average waiting time of two to three years before admission as in-patients; and what other action has been taken to decrease the number of patients awaiting admission.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI apologise for the length of the reply.
The number of patients on the waiting list was 1,099 on 31st May, 1965; 838 on 31st July, 1964; and 656 on 31st July, 1963. The Newcastle unit is the only comprehensive specialised unit in the region and some of those on the waiting list are from outside the Newcastle area. The regional board recognises the need for expansion of the urological services in the region. It has not yet submitted final proposals but is considering the practicability of providing other specialised units at Sunderland, Middlesbrough, and Carlisle. These developments would take some time to implement, and in the meantime the board has asked general practitioners, through executive councils, to refer suitable cases to general surgery departments.
§ Mr. RhodesMay I thank my right hon. Friend for that helpful reply? Is he aware, however, that kidney sufferers in my constituency are having to wait on an average two to three years before admission as in-patients to this unit? Has not this situation largely arisen through the neglect of the development of hospital services in this region during the last decade?
§ Mr. RobinsonI know that the board is well aware of the need for improvement in the urological services of the region and its conclusions about the requirements are expected shortly in my Department. It is true that during the last decade this region was perhaps allowed to lag behind the national average, at any rate in some respects.
§ Mr. RandallIs my right hon. Friend aware of the representations which I made to the previous Government on this matter as well as a Question which I put 1109 to the Parliamentary Secretary early in the period of office of the present Government? Is he also aware that now the waiting lists are soaring and that if the statement made by the regional secretary is true, there is no immediate possibility of alleviating the present situation? Can my right hon. Friend put some urgency into getting a long-term solution of this very pressing problem?
§ Mr. RobinsonI have indicated the long-term solution. As for the short term, I hope very much that a number of these patients on the waiting list will be dealt with in general surgical departments. This is something which has happened in the past. It is nothing new.