§ 22. Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why there has been an increase in hospital waiting lists in inner London.
§ Mr. WhitneyChanges in the total numbers of people on hospital waiting lists occur for many different reasons. The latest available figures show increases in 20 London health authorities and decreases in 11, with a similar pattern in what might be termed "Inner London" districts. Overall, London experienced a small percentage increase in the number of people waiting for admission to hospital between September 1984 and last March—including an increase .of 39 in the number of urgent cases. Hon. 149W Members will remember that we had a particularly hard winter here in London which of course led to increased pressure on hospital services, and may have affected some waiting lists. But the important fact is that levels of NHS activity in London have never been higher, as indeed is the case for the country as a whole.