HC Deb 14 March 1995 vol 256 c680
7. Mr. Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she proposes to ensure early specialist appointments following GP referrals.

Mr. Sackville

For the first time, we have introduced a national waiting time standard for out-patient appointments.

Mr. Lewis

After that unsatisfactory reply, will the Under-Secretary consider the effect of the 18-month demand on consultants which is required by the patients charter? Will he look at Withington hospital in south Manchester, where consultants are now writing to GPs saying that, because of that demand, they cannot accept further referrals? That is another hidden waiting list and it is time that the Minister got off his fat backside and started to tackle the problem properly.

Mr. Sackville

The history of waiting lists and waiting times has been a major success of the NHS reforms. All the unacceptably long waits have been removed. Guarantees are being offered for out-patient appointments as well as for in-patients and for those waiting for operations, and the average waiting time has come down from nine to five months. That is a very real achievement.

Mr. Garnier

Is my hon. Friend aware of the re-engineering project that has been carried out at Leicester Royal infirmary, which has enabled out-patients to see specialists and technicians at one place and during one appointment so that GPs receive the answers to their referrals within hours rather than weeks, which was previously the case? Is that not an example that should be followed by other NHS trusts and hospitals?

Mr. Sackville

Yes, I congratulate Leicestershire on its achievement. We hope to encourage exactly that sort of initiative everywhere.