§ 12. Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will establish an organisation to coordinate demand for specialised operations and treatments, providing for the early distribution of patients to appropriate centres; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe Department is already funding a pilot project in the west midlands to assess the effect upon the referral practice of general practitioners of providing them with additional information about waiting times for general surgery in other districts. Any proposals for a wider-ranging system would have to await an assessment of that project.
§ Mr. GreenwayAssuming the project to be successful, will my hon. Friend consider establishing a national databank containing treatments and operations available so that people who need treatment and operations can he directed immediately to areas where they are available, so reducing waiting lists and talk of non-existent cuts in the Health Service?
§ Mr. WhitneyWe shall consider carefully the results of that project. Quite apart from the outcome of that, as my hon. Friend knows, the reduction of waiting times is a clear priority for the Health Service.
§ Mr. PavittDoes the Minister realise that the referral of patients by general practitioners for specialised operations, and the crisis in acute beds that exists at the moment in the whole of the home counties, means that the time he is spending on the regional survey is not enough? He should consider the way in which the distribution of patients affects the catchment areas of district health authorities and get rid of the system whereby funds are cut purely because of population statistics.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe hon. Gentleman will know that the review of the RAWP formula is just being completed, as my right hon. Friend has advised the House. Part of that study will include the sorts of factors to which the hon. Gentleman referred.