HC Deb 16 July 1991 vol 195 cc209-10
6. Mr. Gill

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing hospital waiting lists in Shropshire.

Mr. Dorrell

In the 12 months to March 1991, the number of patients waiting for in-patient and day case treatment in Shropshire fell by 17 per cent. More importantly, the number waiting for more than one year fell by 58 per cent.

Mr. Gill

I am most grateful for those encouraging figures. Does not my hon. Friend agree that they are by no means unique in the country today and that, under the Conservative Government, and as a result of the management changes introduced last year, waiting lists have been reduced throughout the country? Will my hon. Friend take this opportunity to remind the Labour party that there is scarcely a patient today who cannot see a doctor, scarcely a patient who, having seen a doctor, is denied the drugs and medicine required, and scarcely a patient who, having been admitted to hospital, has not been entirely delighted with the care and attention received in hospital?

Mr. Dorrell

My hon. Friend makes a good point, particularly in relation to waiting lists. One figure has been consistently collected before and through the period of the last Labour Government and through this Government's term of office—the number of people waiting for in-patient treatment in the health service. That figure rose by 48 per cent. between 1974 and 1979, and has fallen by 9 per cent. since 1979.