§ 115. Mr. Murrayasked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that it is injurious to children to wait from 14 to 30 months to have their tonsils removed, what schemes the regional hospital board have ready to reduce the waiting periods at South Shields General Hospital, Ingham Infirmary, Jarrow Palmer Memorial, Haiden Law, Lanchester and Sedgefield General and Durham County Hospitals for operations for tonsils and adenoids; and when resources will be available for this.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI cannot accept without qualification the general suggestion in the first part of the Question. I am informed that at the hospitals to which the hon. Member refers and others in the area, patients requiring tonsillectomy urgently are admitted with little or no delay. The Regional Hospital Board have just completed a survey of the ear, nose and throat services in the region and this will be considered with a view to improvements. The date on which these can be effected will depend on the relative priority accorded in the Board's capital programme.