§ 2.46 p.m.
§ Lord CROOKMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will comment on the claim made as to the surgical day unit at Kingston Hospital, Surrey, that the five-year waiting list for minor surgery operations has been cut to five weeks since the day unit was opened last September to perform "one day surgery".
§ Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNEMy Lords, since the day surgery unit opened in September 1979, the increase in the 6 waiting list for non-urgent surgery at Kingston Hospital has slowed down. For minor surgery, some patients are now able to be treated within five weeks, whereas they may previously have had to wait for more than two years. As the noble Lord has said, the waiting list for hernia operations has been reduced from some five years.
§ Lord CROOKMy Lords, while I thank the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that the Question was deliberately put to obtain comment to help the hospital authorities and surgeons? Is it possible that further information will be given generally on this matter?
§ Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNEMy Lords, day surgery has been used increasingly by the Health Service for a number of years. Advances in anaesthetic technique, surgical method, and care in the community have made it practicable to discharge patients on the day of operation when home conditions are suitable. Ovbiously many conditions cannot be treated in this way. But with increasing experience it has become apparent that the range of operations that can be undertaken safely is considerable. The operations that can be handled are often medically non-urgent, although of considerable concern to the patient. My noble friend's department is well aware of this approach, which it supports and has indeed commended to authorities. We therefore welcome the initiative shown in this area.
§ Lord AUCKLANDMy Lords, in view of the satisfactory situation at Kingston Hospital, can my noble friend say whether there are other hospitals which are being encouraged to adopt this scheme, and particularly newer hospitals with a well equipped accident and casualty unit?
§ Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNEYes, my Lords. There are a number of other hospitals which carry out day surgery, and day case attendances for surgical and related treatments have increased considerably between 1972 and 1977. I have figures here which I shall be very pleased to show to my noble friend. I doubt whether the House would be interested in all the details.
§ Lord SMITHMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he will fully take into account one thing in particular? Patients who are sent straight home still have to be looked after properly. If they are not looked after by doctors in hospital they are looked after by the family doctor at home. This necessarily increases considerably the burden on the family doctors. It is a scheme which simply will not work at all unless there is a particularly good relationship between the hospital and the surrounding family doctors. For instance, the family doctor must be able to get a patient straight back into hospital without argument if there is a complication. There are a number of practicalities which show that there are disadvantages as well as advantages in this scheme.
§ Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNEMy Lords, I entirely concur with what the noble Lord has said.