§ 10. Mr. Penhaligonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are currently awaiting an operation in National Health Service hospitals; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenBecause of considerable variations between specialties and in types and urgency of patients' conditions, an average waiting time for admission would not have any meaning.
On 31st December 1974, the latest date for which national figures are available, there were 517,424 patients on waiting lists in all specialties in England, including 492,362 in the surgical specialties.
§ Mr. PenhaligonI am sure that the Minister recognises that that is a matter for great concern. Does he agree that the present junior doctors' dispute is not improving the situation for the 500,000 people involved? What negotiations have taken place with the Junior Hospital Doctors' Association? It appears to some that the BMA's lack of credibility within its own profession is at least one of the root causes of the problems being experienced.
§ Dr. OwenThe total number on waiting lists has hovered around the 500,000 mark for many years. Industrial disputes in the service in the past few years have undoubtedly contributed to the size of the waiting lists, and there is no question but that the present industrial dispute will aggravate the situation further.
As to the question of whom the Department negotiates with, it is bound to negotiate with those who are recognised as forming the major negotiating body, and currently those are the people with whom we are negotiating.
§ Mr. LoydenDoes my hon. Friend agree that a decision as to priorities between patients should normally be based 210 on the need for medical attention at the time? Therefore, will he investigate the practice of consultants who write letters for patients to take to hospital in order that they can claim priority over other patients who are waiting? That practice is causing some of the delays and cancellations for patients who have waited a long time for entry into hospital.
§ Dr. OwenThe whole question of waiting lists and queue-jumping is very complex. In the joint working party well over a year ago we put to the medical profession proposals for a common waiting list and proposals together to examine the difficulties that might result from such a list, which would have covered some of the points my hon. Friend mentioned. We very much regret that the medical profession later decided not to agree to common waiting lists.
§ Mr. Norman FowlerIs the Minister aware that although it is ludicrous to blame the junior doctors' dispute for the long waiting lists, it is our strongly held view that the junior doctors should cease their action, pending the ballot which is to take place? Is the hon. Gentleman also aware that what the National Health Service desperately needs now is leadership, and that the Secretary of State should stop behaving like a party politician and start acting like a Minister?
§ Dr. OwenNo one would pretend that the waiting lists are solely the responsibility of the present industrial action. We do not have the figures, but it is undoubtedly contributing.
We all welcome the hon. Gentleman's advice to the junior hospital doctors to await the ballot. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will feel able to go one stage further and tell them that they are not being discriminated against, and that it is a central matter of the Government's overall pay policy, which has been voluntarily agreed. One and a half million other workers are prepared to abide by the pay policy, and about 200,000 have actually renegotiated downwards their recent awards to make them compatible with the policy. If the junior hospital doctors recognise that they cannot have extra money under the terms of the pay policy, they should seriously consider the recent option being discussed with their leaders and my right hon. Friend.