§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many urgent cases, involving the danger of deafness, are awaiting surgical ear, nose and throat treatment in Birmingham.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe information on which to base such an estimate is not available.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average waiting time in Birmingham for ear, nose and throat operations in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968.
§ Mr. CrossmanInformation for 1963, 1964 and 1968 is not available. The 193W average time waited by patients whose E.N.T. treatment including operations was completed in the other years is as follows:
1965 … … … 7.3 months 1966 … … … 7.6 months 1967 … … … 6.3 months
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many ear, nose and throat consultant vacancies exist in the Birmingham area.
§ Mr. CrossmanThere are two vacancies for consultants in ear, nose and throat surgery in the Birmingham Region. Both posts are filled at present by locum tenens.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what correspondence he has received concerning ear, nose and throat facilities and the prevention of deafness in Birmingham; and what replies he has sent.
§ Mr. CrossmanFive letters have been received enquiring about various aspects of E.N.T. facilities in Birmingham. The matters raised in four of them have been investigated and replies sent. Inquiries are still being made about the fifth.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost of ear, nose and throat operations in the area of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board.
§ Mr. CrossmanRegional average costs of operations in individual specialties are not available. The cost per operation at the Birmingham and Midland Ear and Throat Hospital in 1967–68 was £10. This excludes the cost of treatment and other in-patient and out-patient services required before and after the operation.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost to the patients for ear, nose and throat operations in private beds in Birmingham hospitals.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe average hospital charge to the patient is £52 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (adults) and £25 at the King Edward VII Memorial Children's Hospital. At the Birmingham and Midland Ear and Throat Hospital it is194W £43 for adults and £22 for children. These figures are based on an average stay of six days for adults and three days for children and on the hospital charges current from 1st October, 1968, to 31st March, 1969; they do not include medical fees which are a matter for private arrangement between the patient and doctor.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time for private treatment in pay beds for ear, nose and throat operations in Birmingham.
§ Mr. CrossmanThere is normally no waiting time for patients seeking private treatment in the pay beds available for ear, nose and throat operations in Birmingham.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases are awaiting ear, nose and throat treatment in Birmingham hospitals; and what is the average waiting time.
§ Mr. Crossman7,248 on 31st December, 1968; the average time waited by patients who completed treatment in 1967 was 6.3 months.