HC Deb 18 February 1993 vol 219 cc461-3
2. Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were treated by the national health service (a) in 1982 and (b) in 1992.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Jeremy Hanley)

In addition to this year's 1.3 million out-patient attendances and 641,000 accident and emergency attendances, 280,000 in-patients were treated in Northern Ireland in 1992. That is 15 per cent. up on the 240,000 treated in 1982. In the same period, the number of people treated as day cases increased from 10,000 to over 60,000.

Mr. Marshall

Does my hon. Friend agree that an increase of 36 per cent., from 250,000 to 310,000, demonstrates the Government's commitment to the health service, and to the people of Northern Ireland? Will he now tell us what has happened—within the overall figure —to the level of waiting lists for cardiac surgery?

Mr. Hanley

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his comments, which I shall pass on to my noble Friend Lord Arran, the Minister responsible for health in Northern Ireland.

There is a particular problem with cardiac surgery in Northern Ireland, because of the problem of cardiac disease. I am pleased to say, however, that—owing to the waiting list initiatives in Northern Ireland—in addition to the £1 million-plus a year that has been helping to reduce long-term waiting lists from more than 5,000 people to a third of that number, we now have £2.75 million extra to spend on the cardiac waiting list in the coming year. That should improve matters further: it should entirely wipe out the waiting list, which was reduced from over 400 early last year to its current level of 170.

Mr. Maginnis

When considering the availability of acute hospital services and access to such services, will the Minister also consider—and tell the House—whether they should be rationalised without boards making known to the public the full implications, including financial implications, of the change? Is the Minister aware that, in its document "Making Choices", the Southern board has suggested changes in the delivery of maternity services, which would certainly disadvantage many people in south Tyrone and mid-Ulster? I refer to the proposals for the South Tyrone hospital.

If the Minister does not ensure that the full implications of those proposals are made known to the public, we shall find that, in future, hospitals will be unable to deliver the services that he has outlined today and will encounter extreme difficulty in applying for trust status. Will the Minister encourage health boards not to put the cart before the horse?

Mr. Hanley

The hon. Gentleman refers to the Southern health and social services board's recently-published major reviews, entitled "Making Choices." It is a genuine review; it asks people to state their choices; it asks for their comments. Any interested individuals or organisations can send in their responses by 31 March. It is hoped that the review of services will be completed by 31 May. The hon. Gentleman said that the review does not contain certain information. The review contains six options for the future arrangement of hospital services. However, the board made it clear that it wants other options to be generated and that it wants suggestions from the general public. This is genuine, open consultation. No decisions have been taken.

Rev. William McCrea

Does the Minister not realise that in the Western board area the excellent maternity services provided by the Tyrone county hospital for the mothers and children of that area are being destroyed by a totally undemocratic board which does not represent the will of the people and runs across everything that is included in the patients charter and that affects patients choice? The review is no more than a sham. It will not be accepted by the people of that area; and it never will.

Mr. Hanley

The hon. Gentleman has put his views to Ministers forcefully over the past few months. We are grateful for the interest that he takes in his constituents in that regard. Although "Making Choices" says that there could be a loss of obstetric, gynaecological, ear, nose and throat and paediatric services at South Tyrone hospital, the report makes clear that no decisions have been or will be made on anything until the whole consultative process is complete. The Southern health and social services board will take full account of the views expressed by the interested parties in framing its views for the future. I believe that the hon. Gentleman has a very important part still to play in that consultation process.