§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the shortage of consultant surgeons, beds, and facilities and on the waiting list of patients needing minor surgery in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area.
§ Mr. AlisonI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Edwin Wainwright) on 11th April, 1972.—[Vol. 834, c.145.]
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time in Retford and Worksop for hospital beds for the following complaints, and how this compares with the national average, namely, tonsils and adenoids, hernia operations, tuberculosis of respiratory systems, non-malignant growths, diabetes, diseases of circulatory system, diseases of breast and genital systems, prolapse of womb, skin diseases and adverse effect of chemical substances.
§ Mr. AlisonInformation about the number of patients on waiting lists is not recorded by diagnosis or condition and is not therefore separately available for the conditions specified. The following information for the Retford and Worksop 225W hospitals shows the main relevant specialities which include, generally as a
Period of waiting time Specialty Total number on waiting list, 31st December, 1971 Under 1 month 1month-under 3 months 3months-under 6 months 6months-under 12 months 12 months and over General medicine 4 3 1 — — — Dermatology 9 4 2 3 — — Chronic sick 48 8 21 11 8 — General surgery 229 47 78 65 34 5 Ear, nose and throat— T. and A. 22 20 2 — — — Others 58 34 21 3 — — Traumatic and orthopaedic Surgery 120 19 33 30 38 — Ophthalmology 96 6 23 24 30 13 Gynaecology 169 39 39 41 24 26 Totals 755 180 220 177 134 44 Urgent cases are admitted without delay.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take to reduce the waiting time for admission to hospital in Worksop and Retford, and also in the area of the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board generally.
§ Mr. AlisonApart from the long-term improvement in resources for the Sheffield Regional generally to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Edwin Wain-wright) on 11th April, 1972, I understand that work is expected to start in the autumn on a building scheme to increase the number of beds at the Victoria Hospital.—[Vol. 834, c.145.]
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of people in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area are now being admitted as private patients for common surgery; and how this number compares with 10 years ago.
§ Mr. AlisonThe number of private patients admitted for general surgery is not separately known. 1.7 per cent. of all patients admitted to non-physiatric hospitals in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Area in 1971 were treated under private arrangements compared with 1.8 per cent. in 1961.