§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is being taken to reduce the waiting time for patients waiting for ear, nose and throat operations in the hospitals of the former Liverpool Regional Hospital Board.
§ Dr. OwenIn order to ensure efficient use of resources, the regional policy is to concentrate these services at selected centres where necessary capital work is being carried out to increase capacity. Measures to reduce waiting lists additionally include regular review to check the need for operations, informing general practitioners of the length of lists of330W individual consultants and introduction of day surgery.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is being taken to reduce the waiting time for patients waiting for cardiology in the hospitals of the former Liverpool Regional Hospital Board.
§ Dr. OwenCardiology services in the region are concentrated at hospitals formerly under the management of the Board of Governors of the United Liverpool Hospitals. With the return of a consultant from sick leave it is hoped that the waiting list will now be reduced.
§ Mr. Orbachasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the waiting list for geriatrics and other chronically and acutely sick older persons in Stockport hospitals; and how many of these cases are admitted weekly.
§ Dr. OwenFor the geriatric specialty, which includes the elderly chronic sick, the current waiting list is 100.
Waiting lists for the acute specialties are not available by age groups. Urgent cases are admitted without delay. Some examples of weekly admissions to geriatric beds during the last 12 month are 100, 105, 76, 111, 71 and 98.