§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he disclosed the contents of "The Health Service in England—Annual Report 1985", at a meeting of the Conservative Medical Society prior to its official publication; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayhoeMy right hon. Friend spoke to a meeting of the Conservative Medical Society about the developments in the Health Service, on the basis of figures first published in an NHS statistical bulletin and subsequently in the NHS annual report. The purpose was to set out the improved performance of the Health Service in a number of important areas. For example, in 1984 the NHS treated more patients than ever before. Over 1983, in-patient cases were up 159,000 to 6.2 million; day cases were up 90,000 to 903,000; new outpatient attendances were up 197,000 to 8.5 million; total outpatient attendances were up 523,000 to 37–0 million; total accident and emergency attendances were up 166,000 to 13. million.