§ 8. Sir Anthony Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average waiting time in Wales for National Health Service hip replacement operations.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe average waiting time in 1983 for patients admitted from waiting lists in Wales for hip replacement operations was some 31 weeks.
§ Sir Anthony MeyerIs my hon. Friend aware that the waiting period in the Clwyd health authority area appears to be substantially longer than "some 31 weeks"? Can he reassure me that there is a possibility of improving the waiting period in Clwyd?
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsI regret that my hon. Friend is quite right in saying that the waiting time for hip replacement operations in Clwyd is significantly longer than for Wales as a whole. However, the number of such operations undertaken in the district has almost doubled over the past four years. I am pleased to tell him also that work is being done to increase the number of orthopaedic beds at Abergele and at the Wrexham war memorial hospital, where orthopaedic treatment takes place. This should offer the opportunity of further improvements in the number of elderly people treated.
§ Mr. RogersWhen does the 31-week waiting period start within the full diagnostic and treatment process?
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe practice varies throughout Wales and I was fairly careful in my choice of words. People are admitted from the waiting list for hip operations.