HC Deb 12 June 1984 vol 61 c448W
49. Mr. Heddle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients were awaiting admission to hospitals for operations at the latest date for which figures are available

Mr. John Patten

Information available centrally on in patient waiting lists is categorised accordingly to the specialty of the consultant, but not according to the intended method of treatment. On 30 September 1983, 678,827 people were awaiting admission for treatment in surgical specialties in NHS hospitals in England compared with a figure of 699,427 on 30 September 1982.