§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were waiting for admissions for an orthopaedic operation at 30th June 1977 in each of the area health authorities of Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield and Leeds, respectively.
§ Mr. MoyleFigures at 30th June 1977 are not available. The numbers on inpatient traumatic and orthopaedic waiting lists at 30th September 1977 were as follows:
273W
Area Health Authority Patients Manchester 1,839 Birmingham 4,050 Sheffield 2,260 Leeds 638
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how long it is since the bed norm for orthopaedic surgery was determined; if discussions are in progress with a view to revising it; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThere has never been a national bed norm for orthopaedic surgery, but a working group of my Department and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys is at present studying future bed requirements and is expected to report shortly. The aim of the working group is to derive national bed ratios by age and condition to assist health authorities on calculating how many beds are required locally in each specialty on the basis of local demographic structures and morbidity patterns.