HC Deb 22 December 1981 vol 15 cc859-60
10. Mr. Heddle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he remains satisfied with the rate at which hospital waiting lists are being reduced.

18. Mr. Whitlock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much hospital waiting lists have fallen since 1979.

Mr. Fowler

Waiting list numbers in England have fallen from a peak of over 750,000 on 31 March 1979 to a provisional figure of 630,000 on 31 March 1981. This is an achievement for which the National Health Service deserves full credit, though there is room for further improvement and we shall continue to encourage this.

Mr. Heddle

May I offer my congratulations to my right hon. Friend for a significant reduction in hospital waiting lists during the past two years? This is one of the Government's many unsung successes. Notwithstanding that, does my right hon. Friend agree that treatment for a significant proportion of those still awaiting operations, especially the 124,000 awaiting orthopaedic operations, would be greatly facilitated by the implementation of the recommendation of the Duthie report and by my right hon. Friend taking on board my suggestion to establish a computer bed bank, either at national or regional level, so that vacancies on surgeons' waiting lists can be matched to orthopaedic cases awaiting surgery?

Mr. Fowler

I entirely agree with the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question. There is no question but that the Government have spent 5 per cent. more in real terms on the National Health Service. There are now 21,000 more nurses and 1,000 more doctors. Those are achievements of which the Government have every right to be proud. I read the suggestion that my hon. Friend made in an article and I shall have that issue re-examined.

Mr. Pavitt

Will the right hon. Gentleman look with urgency at the blight that has settled on us, especially on London teaching hospitals, and give particular attention to the number of consultant professorships that are vacant because of the uncertainty that has been caused by the Flowers report and the reorganisation that will take place on 1 April? Will he direct his attention to the effect that this is having on increasing waiting lists, especially in out-patient departments? Will he do something about the way in which private practice is able to lengthen gynaecological waiting lists in the NHS by treating ladies who are uncomfortable and are prepared to pay to get out of their discomfort?

Mr. Fowler

I shall examine both the hon. Gentleman's points.

Mr. Greenway

Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that he will always keep in mind the need to have sufficient hospital accommodation for the elderly and temporarily infirm, many of whom need to go into hospitals for short periods at this time" of the year?

Mr. Fowler

Indeed. My hon. Friend puts his finger on one of the problems that the National Health Service faces, not just at this time but throughout the year.

Mr. Ashley

When the Minister speaks of being proud of his achievements, does he recognise that in North Staffordshire many thousands of people wait for many years for important treatment, and that in other parts of the country the list is shorter? If it is not possible in the short term to take doctors to those areas of difficulty, can he make arrangements to take people to the doctors where the waiting lists are shorter?

Mr. Fowler

I should not want in any way to suggest that we must not still go much further. The point that I was making was the record of this Government so far.

I agree with the right hon. Gentleman's second point. Indeed, I have said that I shall examine that matter to see whether improvements can be made.