§ 31. Mr. William Wellsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average delay in admitting children for surgical treatment, other than in emergency, at the Walsall General Hospital ; and how this period compares with the average in the area of the West Midlands Regional Hospital Board as a whole.
§ Mr. AlisonThis information is not available since separate waiting lists are not maintained for children.
§ Mr. WellsDoes the Minister realise that for the gynaecological services the delay in Walsall is double that in the rest of the area of the regional hospital board? Will he make further inquiries to find out whether the delay to children is the same? Will he do all in his power to bring the Walsall standard at least up to the standard of the rest of the region?
§ Mr. AlisonI note the hon. and learned Gentleman's point. I understand that at the Walsall General Hospital last December 643 patients of all ages were awaiting admission for general and orthopaedic surgery, a decrease of 66 on the figure for 1969.