§ 12. Mrs. Fennerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients are waiting for tonsillectomies in Medway hospitals.
§ Mr. AlisonA total of 439 at All Saints Hospital which serves the Medway area.
§ Mrs. FennerIs my hon. Friend aware that I very much regret that it is such a long list? While I am aware that tonsillectomies are not always as urgent as other surgical operations, may I ask whether my hon. Friend is aware of my constituent who has waited for five years? I have sought to draw the attention of my hon. Friend to the waiting list for other operations and to the pressures on general practitioner services. May I ask my hon. Friend to direct special attention to the exceptional burden placed on medical services in the Medway area?
§ Mr. AlisonI have noted my hon. Friend's general comments. As for the E.N.T. side, may I point out that following the reopening of the ward—the temporary closure of which caused an increase in the waiting list—an extra 20 1179 beds will be available over and above the four which were lost as a result of the closure.