§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the total number of patients waiting for orthopaedic appointments at Ormskirk Hospital; and what is the average waiting time;
(2) what is the total number of patients waiting for orthopaedic surgery at Ormskirk Hospital; and what is the average waiting time.
§ Dr. OwenFollowing are the latest figures available. There were 254 patients waiting for out-patient appointments on 23rd May and 45 patients awaiting surgery on 31st May. On 31st May the waiting time to the next appointment for a non-urgent referral was 42 days, and the patients awaiting surgery had waited an average of 75 days. Average waiting times can be misleading as waiting times vary according to the circumstances of individual cases.