§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the research projects being considered by his Department
316Wabout this problem. The report of the working party to which I referred makes recommendations on how waiting lists can be reduced. It is at present being considered by the Joint Consultants Committee.
For Nottinghamshire, the Regional hospital board intends to allocate a large proportion of its capital resources to hospital developments in the southern half of the region. The first phase of the new 1,400-bed teaching hospital in Nottingham is scheduled for completion about 1977, and major developments continue at the City and Sherwood and General Hospitals in Nottingham. Further major developments are planned for the Kilton Hospital, Worksop and Kings Mill Hospital in Mansfield.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting period for patients suffering from non-acute conditions for surgical treatment in National Health Service hospitals in Nottinghamshire ; and how many people are waiting to see a consultant in each of the specialties.
§ Sir K. JosephWaiting periods for admission for non-acute conditions vary with specialty, patients' condition, availability of beds and emergency case-load. Thus averages are not meaningful. The following tables illustrate the position in Nottinghamshire at the 30th September 1973:
connected with non-accidental injury to children ;
(2) if he will institute research into the circumstances of ill-treated children's birth and, in particular, how many mothers charged with baby battering 317W were refused a termination of pregnancy and how many had ever been offered information about contraception.
§ Sir K. JosephI am considering a number of proposals for research in these areas, but I do not think it would be right or helpful to publish a list at this stage. Some of them are still at an early stage of discussion. I will gladly make a further statement, however, when more progress has been made in establishing the co-ordinated programme to which I referred in my answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 22nd November.—[Vol. 864, c.497–8.]