HC Deb 23 October 1984 vol 65 cc546-7
16. Mr. Corbyn

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of people on the waiting list for National Health Service operations and how many usable beds are temporarily out of use.

Mr. John Patten

On 31 March 1984 there were 666,327 people awaiting admission to surgical specialties in NHS hospitals in England. Information on numbers of beds temporarily out of use is not collected routinely.

Mr. Corbyn

Should not the Minister be able to give more accurate and up-to-date information on this scandalous waste of resources?

Mr. Patten

For someone who could not remember the number of his question, that is ripe. We give very up-do-date and accurate information to the House, which shows that a record number of inpatients, outpatients and day patients are being treated by the NHS.

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