§ 10. Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)If he will make a statement on waiting lists in Romford. [169832]
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Ms Rosie Winterton)The main acute hospital providing health services for residents of Romford is Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS trust. The trust is currently achieving both the elective admission and first out-patient appointment waiting time targets.
§ Mr. RosindellI do not think my constituents will be convinced by that response. I have countless examples of people from Romford who have been waiting for months, if not years, for essential operations.
What does the Minister say to senior citizens in my constituency, who worked hard, paid their taxes, expect a health service now that they are older and feel utterly betrayed and let down by the Government?
§ Ms WintertonNo doubt the hon. Gentleman will be keen to let his constituents know that the number of patients waiting for elective surgery in Barking and Havering health authority in March 1997 was 10,077 and that the number of patients waiting in Havering PCT in February this year was 5,268. That is a difference of about 50 per cent. Those figures speak for themselves.
§ Angela Watkinson (Upminster) (Con)When the new Oldchurch hospital was planned, a series of specialist GP practices throughout the area was also planned, to be developed concurrently. The purpose was to relieve pressure on the new hospital and to shorten waiting times. The hospital is due to open in 2005, but to date it has not been possible for the primary care trust to develop one single specialist GP practice. What assistance can the Minister offer to the primary care trust to enable it to meet its deadline?
§ Ms WintertonAs the hon. Lady knows, under the policy of shifting the balance of power, decisions on local provision of services rest at local level. Obviously, if she wishes to raise a particular problem, she can write to us about that with notice and we will respond to it accordingly.