§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the short-term and long-term plans for the Royal Hospital, Sheffield.
§ Mr. Alison:The new Hallamshire Hospital is expected to be opened in 1975-76, and until then the Royal Hospital will continue to be used as an acute general teaching hospital. Future hospital development in the Sheffield area, including the rôle of existing hospitals, is under review.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest annual total of patients on the waiting list of the Royal Hospital, Sheffield, who were notified of their admission and then had it cancelled by the hospital on the day preceding or on the actual day of admission.
§ Mr. Alison:It is occasionally necessary at the Royal Hospital Sheffield as at other hospitals to defer the admission of a patient from a waiting list because of the need to admit another patient as an emergency. A separate record of such deferments is not maintained.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time for patients for 'thyroid operations at the Royal Hospital, Sheffield, on the National Health Service waiting list and as private patients, respectively.
§ Mr. Alison:Ten National Health Service patients are at present on the waiting list; the longest waiting time is six months, but most patients wait less than 233W three months. The waiting time for private patients depends on individual arrangements made between the consultant and the patient.