§ Ms. Colquhounasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultants are employed under contract to the National Health Service at Mansfield orthopaedic hospital, Northampton; and how much of their time is divided at the hospital between National Health Service patients and their own private patients.
§ Mr. MoyleI regret that this information is not available. Details of consultants at individual hospitals are not collected centrally, nor are consultants who are not contracted whole time to the NHS required to provide information about the work they do outside the hours for which they are contracted to the NHS.
§ Ms. Colquhounasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many private operations are undertaken in Mansfield orthopaedic hospital, Northampton 757W and then transferred to St. Andrew's private nursing home for after care; and if he will make a statement on the use of National Health Service facilities by consultants in this manner.
§ Mr. MoyleThere were 118 private operations undertaken in 1978 at the Mansfield hospital, Northampton. There are no restrictions on the transfer of private patients from NHS hospitals to private nursing homes for after care and comprehensive information as to the immediate destination of private patients on discharge is not available to the area health authority.
§ Ms. Colquhounasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how long the waiting list is for orthopaedic operations at Mansfield orthopaedic hospital, Northampton.
§ Mr. MoyleThere were 1,905 patients awaiting orthopaedic surgery at the
WAITING TIMES Specialty Under 3 months 3–6 months 6–12 months 12–24 months Over 25 months Totals General surgery 561 311 490 348 189 1,899 Ear, nose and throat 266 70 26 9 2 373 Orthopaedic surgery 221 215 258 532 679 1,905 Ophthalmology 53 4 — — — 57 Dental surgery 18 14 1 2 — 35 Gynaecology 312 163 254 187 95 1,011 Total 1,431 777 1,029 1,078 965 5,280