HC Deb 14 March 1977 vol 928 cc83-5W
Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current waiting time for operations in each of the main surgical specialities at St. Nicholas Hospital, Plumstead, the Brook General Hospital, Woolwich and Greenwich District Hospital; and how

AVERAGE WAITING TIMES—ST. NICHOLAS HOSPITAL, PLUMSTEAD
Specialty 1971 1972 1974 1975 1976
General Surgery
Males … … 1–18 months 3 months-1year 2–9 months 6 months-1year 6 months
Females … … 1–18months 3–9 months 2–9 months 3 months-1year 6 months
Children … … 6 months-1year 6 months 2 months-2 year 9 months-1 year —
Traumatic and Orthopaedic Surgery:
Males … … 3 months Nil 2 months Nil 1 month
Females … … 3 months Nil 2 months Nil 1 month
Children … … 4 months Nil 2 months Nil Nil
Ophthalmology:
Males … … 1½ years 1–3 months 1–1½ years Nil Nil
Females … … 2years 1 month-2 years 1½–2 years Nil Nil
Children … … 1year 1–10 months 1–1½ years Nil Nil
Gynaecology … … 6 months 3–12 months 2 months-1 year 1–6 months 6 month
Upology:
Males … … 1 year 2 years 1½–2 years Nil Nil
Females … … 1 year 2 years 1 ½–2years Nil Nil
Children … … 4 months 1 year 1 year Nil Nil
AVERAGE WAITING TIMES—BROOK GENERAL HOSPITAL
Specialty 1971 1972 1974 1975 1976
General Surgery:
Males … … 2 weeks-8 months 8 weeks 2–4 months 10 months 11 weeks
Females … … 3–4 weeks 2 weeks 1 month 11 weeks 19 weeks
Children … … 3 months 8 weeks 1–3 months Nil Nil
Traumatic and Orthopaedic Surgery:
All … … Nil 3–6 months Nil Nil 1½ years
Urology:
Males … … 2½ years 1 year 17 months 11 months 24 weeks
Females … … 1 year 30 weeks 1 month Nil 11 weeks
Children … … 1 year 2 years 1 month Nil Nil
Ear, Nose and Throat (Tonsils and Adenoids):
Males … … Nil 2 weeks 3 months 17 weeks 19 weeks
Females … … Nil 1 week 2 months 6 weeks 16 weeks
Children … … 7 months 10 weeks 1 month 3 weeks 10 weeks
Ear, Nose and Throat (Other):
Males … … 2 weeks 8 weeks 5 months 11 months 31 weeks
Females … … 1 month 12 weeks 2 months 10 weeks 8 weeks
Children … … 6 weeks 6 weeks 2 months 12 weeks 10 weeks

this compares with the situation over the past five years.

Mr. Moyle

Surgical waiting times can vary widely over the year, depending on such factors as the availability of operating theatres, staff, etc. Current waiting times for major specialities are not readily available; but the approximate annual averages given in the tables give some indication of levels since 1971. No figures are available for 1973, nor at the Greenwich District Hospital before 1975.

Specialty 1971 1972 1974 1975 1976
Thoracic Surgery:
All … … 1–3 weeks 3–9 weeks 1–3 weeks 3 months 4 weeks
Dental Surgery:
Males … … 5 months 1 years 13 months Nil Nil
Females … … 3½ years 4 years 17 months Nil Nil
Children … … 2 Years 2 years 6 months Nil Nil
Neurosurgery
All … … 2–3 weeks 2–3 weeks 2 weeks-2 months 3 weeks 1–4 weeks

AVERAGE WAITING TIMES—GREENWICH DISTRICT HOSPITAL
Specialty 1975 1976
General Surgery:
Males … … … … … 0–3 months 1 year
Females …… … … … 1 year
Children … … … … … 3 months
Traumatic and Orthopaedic Surgery:
Males … … … … … 0–9 months 0–10 weeks
Females … … … … … 0–3 months 0–14 weeks
Children … … … … … 0–8 months Nil
Ophthalmology:
Males … … … … … 1–6 months 0–8 weeks
Females … … … … … 0–12 months 0–6 months
Children … … … … … 0–4 months 0–4 months
Gynaecology … … … … … 3 months 0–8 weeks
Urology
Males … … … … … 4–12 months 0–3 weeks
Females … … … … … 9–12 months 0–6 weeks
Children … … … … … 6–18 months 0–6 weeks