HC Deb 11 December 1967 vol 756 cc16-7
10 and 11. Sir J. Langford-Holt

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will now make a statement on the hospital facilities available in Shrewsbury, following the representations made to him by the hon. Member for Shrewsbury;

(2) whether he will now make a statement on the waiting lists for surgical treatment necessary for patients in Shrewsbury, following the representations made to him by the hon. Member for Shrewsbury; and how this list and the waits involved compare with those for other areas.

Mr. Snow

The present facilities are inadequate, with correspondingly long waiting lists. The remedy lies in the new district general hospital now being built.

I will circulate figures in relation to waiting lists in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Sir J. Langford-Holt

Does not the Minister agree that the waiting lists for the service in this area are among the worst in the country? In those circumstances, does he not realise that it is wholly inadequate for him to put forward proposals, as he has done, going as far ahead as 1971? Does he not realise that a great deal more urgency is needed?

Mr. Snow

I have said that the waiting lists are undesirably long. We are taking every action that we can within our resources. Arrangements are being made for the admission of patients to the R.A.F. Hospital at Cosford to help alleviate the situation. There has been a marked reduction in the total number on the surgical waiting lists. But I agree with the hon. Member that the position is unsatisfactory, and it will be reviewed the whole time. It is accepted as a bad case.

Following are the figures:

B. PERIOD OF WAIT BY PATIENTS ADMITTED FROM THE WAITING LISTS IN 1966 (EXCLUDING URGENT ADMISSIONS NOT FROM THE WAITING LIST)*
Percentage of patients waiting
Area Under 6 months 6–12 months 12–24 months 24–36 months Over 36 months
Shrewsbury Hospital Management Committee … … 76.5 13.8 8.0 1.7 —
Birmingham Regional Hospital Board … … 86.2 9.2 3.4 0.9 0.3
* Based partly on 10 per cent. sample.