§ 12. Mr. Mark RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing waiting times in Somerset and the south-west. [38222]
§ Mr. SackvilleExcellent progress has been made in reducing waiting times in Somerset and the south-west generally. At 31 March 1995, there was no one waiting more than 12 months for non-urgent treatment in Somerset and only 66 patients waiting that long for treatment in the south and west region.
§ Mr. RobinsonI thank my hon. Friend for that excellent reply. Will he confirm that average waiting times have come down? Does that not give the lie to the Labour party's opposition to the creation of hospital trusts and its current desire to abolish fundholding? In fact, Conservative reforms are working.
§ Mr. SackvilleMy hon. Friend is absolutely right to say that not only have the numbers of those waiting come down but the time that they wait—the important figure—has also come down. In his district, the figure for those waiting more than six months for non-emergency treatment has come down by a full 40 per cent. I would certainly say that his constituents enjoy a high-quality health service that is matched only by the quality of their parliamentary representation. [Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. The House must come to order. It is far too noisy: I can hear neither questions nor answers.