HC Deb 18 January 1984 vol 52 cc311-2
9. Mr. O'Neill

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next be meeting health board chairmen to discuss waiting lists.

Mr. John MacKay

My right hon. Friend has no present plans to discuss waiting lists with health board chairmen.

Mr. O'Neill

Does the Minister agree that the single most significant yardstick of Health Service provision is the length of the waiting list? Is he aware that the increasing length of waiting lists in particular areas and specialties is causing great pain and suffering to patients in Scotland? Does he agree that it should be a priority for him to discuss this regularly with health board chairmen?

Mr. MacKay

The chairmen are, of course, well aware of my wish to encourage them to seek ways of improving their efficiency, increasing patient throughput and reducing waiting lists. From 1979 to 1981 the Government had some success in reducing the waiting lists which we inherited, but, when the Health Service dispute occurred, waiting lists increased again. Time after time I told the House that the dispute was damaging patient care and I invited Labour Members to condemn it, but they never did so. Yet now they are surprised that waiting lists have rocketed upwards. I trust, however, that they will be delighted to hear that between March and September last year waiting lists declined by 8,000. We hope to continue that progress in recovery from the damage inflicted by the dispute.