§ 31. Mr. Nealeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the latest available figures on waiting lists compare with those in March 1979.
§ 45. Mr. Woodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in reducing the number of patients on hospital waiting lists.
§ Mr. John PattenAt March 1979 hospital in-patient waiting lists stood at 752,400. The latest available figure, for September 1984, is 682,600. The numbers had fallen to 622,500 in March 1982 but rose again to 746,100 in December 1982 following the industrial action in the health service. The downward trend then resumed and we expect it to continue. In general, figures on waiting lists are believed to include a significant proportion of duplicated entries and patients who no longer require treatment. The amount of overstatement cannot readily be estimated, but is thought to exceed 10 per cent. nationally and could be considerably more. About half of all admissions to hospital are immediate, and many of those on waiting lists already have a planned date of admission.