§ 2.56 p.m.
§ Lord EnnalsMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to reduce hospital waiting lists for general surgery, orthopaedics, ear, nose and throat, eye surgery and gynaecology.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, my right honourable friend recently announced a drive to reduce the time people have to wait for diagnosis and treatment. Regions were asked to prepare plans for action and to report back by the end of October. We are now studying those plans. We are determined that the initiative about which I have just been talking will make a major impact on waiting times and waiting lists.
§ Lord EnnalsMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her reply; but what I should really like to know is what action is being taken? Does she accept that two operating theatres at St. Thomas's Hospital are closed indefinitely because there are no trained staff to assist in operations; that St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington may have to cut its kidney transplant programme because it cannot get nurses for its renal unit; and that St. Stephens Hospital in Fulham is reducing its intensive care capacity by almost half for similar reasons? Is it a shortage of nurses or a shortage of resources that is bringing about the current very high figures which cause the Secretary of State to say that this is the most important problem he has to tackle?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, perhaps I may first deal with the renal failure question. The number of patients being treated for kidney failure has been increasing steadily. The national target of 40 new patients per million which was set for 1987 was achieved in 1985.
Let me deal also with other specialties. The number of kidney transplants carried out in the United Kingdom in the 12 months to 30th September 1986 was 1,502, a most encouraging figure. But many more are needed and could be carried out if more kidneys were donated. This increase could be achieved if more members of the public carried donor cards and made their wishes known to their relatives and if all doctors involved with suitable cases were willing to encourage donation—although I have to say that I should be rather sorry for anybody who got my poor old kidneys!
§ Lord MolloyMy Lords, would it be possible for the noble Baroness to request that her department examines the ever-increasing time that one has to wait for any form of heart surgery? Surgeons, doctors and all medical staff concerned with heart surgery and heart complaints are of the opinion that this is now an extremely serious problem. Can these matters be looked into?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, the one specialty which is not included in the Question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Ennals, is cardiac surgery. It refers to general surgery, orthopaedics, ear nose and throat, ophthalmology and gynaecology. I am afraid that I do not have details on cardiac surgery, and the noble Lord must put down a Question if he wants the answer.
§ Lord MellishMy Lords, the noble Baroness will understand that there can be no dispute, and certainly no party political point is being made, about the fact that there is a large shortage of skilled technicians to do the job of work. For example, there are not enough nurses. Some of the operating theatres have had to close not because of party politics or a shortage of funds but because there are just not enough nurses. What is being done about that, and in particular about trying to get more technical people involved, so that some of these cases can be dealt with?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, as the noble Lord will know, we have set targets for further improvements in the availability of life-enhancing treatment. By 1990 there will be 17,000 coronary by- 908 pass operations a year, compared with 3,200 in 1978; almost 50,000 lung operations; 70,000 cataract operations and 550 bone marrow transplants. It is up to the regions to make their own arrangements for staffs and to deploy them in the way they are most needed. They should deal with staff and other matters from the ample resources which are available to them.
§ The Countess of MarMy Lords, can the noble Baroness explain why, despite the admonitions of the Minister in another place, consultants at Worcester and in the West Midlands Regional Health Authority have been told not to work so hard because the authority cannot afford to pay them?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, I am afraid I am unable to answer questions relating to particular geographical areas, but I shall gladly write to the noble Baroness.
Lord Wallace of CoslanyMy Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that it is a pity she cannot answer for various areas? I say that for the simple reason that in my district at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, the consultants at their own expense have paid for a full page advertisement in the local paper warning local people that they cannot cope with the work in front of them due to lack of funds and lack of facilities. They are doing their best under difficult circumstances and they cannot guarantee more. Is the noble Baroness further aware—
Lord Wallace of CoslanyMay I, my Lords? Thank you very much. It is a short question. Only this morning I received from Saga, which looks after old people. a form asking me whether I should like to join its scheme for the help and care of old people, arising simply because of mounting waiting lists at hospitals. Is the noble Baroness aware that unfortunately I am far too old to join even that scheme?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, I have already said in answer to the noble Baroness that I cannot answer in specific cases.
§ The Countess of MarMy Lords, I am sorry to intervene but may I remind the noble Baroness that I am not a Baroness?
§ The Lord President of the Council (Viscount Whitelaw)My Lords, may I point out that these Questions, immensely important as they are, have now taken some 26 minutes. I feel that your Lordships may wish to pass on to the next Question.
§ Lord EnnalsMay I put a final question, my Lords, having tabled the original one?
§ Lord EnnalsMy Lords, I ask the House to permit me to do so.