§ Q10. Mr. Simon Burns (West Chelmsford)Why, based on the Government's figures, between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1999 in the Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS trust area, has the number of people waiting 13 weeks or more for out-patient treatment risen from 555 to 2,422; the number of people waiting 12 months or more for hospital treatment risen from 104 to 1,093; and the total hospital waiting list figure increased by 1,500 people?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not know the details of the individual hospital. I am happy to accept the figures the hon. Gentleman gives, but I will check them if I may.
There is no doubt about the figures for the whole country: the waiting lists have fallen after years and years of rising. Waiting times in the whole country have fallen, 647 and more out-patients are now being treated than two years ago. The health authority deficits that we inherited were £500 million for the whole country. They came down to £100 million last year and, I can tell the House, now stand at £12 million. Yes, it will take us time to turn around a health service that under the Government the 648 hon. Gentleman supported was undermined and ruined every day. It will take us time, but with the extra investment that we are putting in—more nurses, more doctors and more capital spending—everywhere, including mid-Essex, will feel the benefit at the next general election.