§ 5. Mr. Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury)On how many occasions in the last three years he has changed the methodology for compiling hospital waiting lists; and if he will make a statement. [147333]
§ Mr. RobertsonWhy, therefore, did my constituent Mr. Clive Currie receive a letter from the local hospital dated 30 December last year telling him that his appointment six months later had to be cancelled because of an urgent requirement for appointments? Why did the same letter tell him that he would not be offered another appointment more than a month before the date for such an appointment fell due? Is that not a case of keeping people off the waiting list—and does it not coincide with the possible date of a general election?
§ Mr. MilburnThe problem with the hon. Gentleman's follow-up question is that he had not listened to my answer to his original question. I shall be glad to look into the complaint, although I am aware of the strictures placed on me by you, Mr. Speaker, and by Opposition Front-Bench Members, who keep telling me that the last thing I should be doing is interfering in individual patient complaints or in the running of the health service locally. However, the hon. Gentleman has made a representation to me, and I shall be happy to look into the matter.
My main point is that under this Government there have been no changes in the way in which we compile the waiting list statistics. The methods are exactly the same as those used under the previous Government. There are 120,000 fewer people on waiting lists now than when we came to power. More patients are being treated because this Government are investing more money.
§ Mr. Desmond Swayne (New Forest, West)On the day that the number of people on waiting lists has risen—and with NHS managers seeking to respond to the incentives offered by his waiting list initiative, and to the targets that it imposes—will the Secretary of State say how many patients have been removed from waiting lists for non-clinical reasons?
§ Mr. MilburnI should be happy to send the hon. Gentleman a note about that, if that would be helpful. [HON. MEMBERS: "Ah!"] Amazingly enough, I do not have the figure in front of me.
I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his Front-Bench duties. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."' As we can hear, he is deeply popular with Labour Members. I wonder what the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) has done to deserve him.
On waiting lists, the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) told the House on 8 March last year that the problem in the NHS was that
some people are not waiting long enough."—[Official Report, 8 March 2000; Vol. 345, c. 1054.]That was not his only pearl of wisdom. Two years ago, he told the House that the best treatment for the condition of teenage pregnancy was "education and self-discipline". He went on to ask the Minister with responsibility for public health whether the condition might not be better treated by adding "something to the water". That is the sort of pearl of wisdom that we can look forward to from the hon. Gentleman.
§ Angela Smith (Basildon)While my right hon. Friend is looking at waiting lists, will he also consider the 787 reasons why some patients remain on those lists? I draw his attention to the tragic death of a young woman in my area, who died after waiting for two years for organs for a transplant operation. We have discovered that one of the reasons for such long waits is that many people do not carry donor cards, because the regulations were changed in 1994. The cards are no longer sent out automatically to GPs and surgeons. People have to apply for donor cards, and many do not do so. In the light of recent developments, will my right hon. Friend examine this matter urgently and reinstate the system in which donor cards are sent out automatically?
§ Mr. MilburnI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. As she knows, I shall be visiting a hospital in Basildon tomorrow.
On organ donation, I will gladly look into my hon. Friend's specific point about changes in the regulations in 1994. A huge number of people in the country—about 8 million—already carry organ donor cards. That is about 14 per cent. of the population. It is very important that they do so, and it is also important that we do all we can to encourage even more people to carry cards, because organ donation plays such an important part in advances in medical research and treatment. Before too long, I will be holding a meeting with patients organisations, doctors and others to see what we can do to ensure that the advantages of organ donation are made clear to the majority of the British people.
§ Mr. Andy King (Rugby and Kenilworth)Does my right hon. Friend agree that the difference between the Labour and Conservative parties is that we are seriously trying to deal with waiting lists, while their answer is to cut waiting lists drastically by forcing everyone to take out private health insurance?
§ Mr. MilburnMy hon. Friend is right—that is the position of those on the Conservative Front Bench, including the shadow Home Secretary, the shadow Chancellor and the Leader of the Opposition. It is not the position of the Government—nor, indeed, that of the British Medical Association.
I draw my hon. Friend's attention to a report that the BMA has published today on how best to fund our health care system. Considering the sort of policy for private health insurance that the Conservatives advocate, it concludes that
a tax relief scheme would result in a net loss of funds to the public sector. It would also be regressive, as those who could not afford private insurance even with tax relief would in effect be subsidising those who could afford it.That is absolutely right. The report goes on to say that such a policyis unlikely to be popular with the public as it provides access to health care on the basis of ability to pay.That, too, is right. This Government—this party—believe that clinical need, not ability to pay, is the driving force behind our health care system. That is precisely the point that we will be defending at the next election.