HC Deb 10 December 1986 vol 107 cc215-6W
Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give region by region the hospital out-patient waiting list for each district at 31 March and 30 September in 1978 and each succeeding year.

Mr. Newton

I am sorry that I cannot give the hon. Member the information he seeks. Information on numbers awaiting out-patient appointments is not held centrally.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will set out region by region district health authority in-patient waiting lists, the total populations living in each district, the percentage which the former represents of the latter and their national ranking by that percentage;

(2) if he will set out region by region the hospital urgent in-patient waiting list in each health district, together with the number of urgent cases waiting more than a month, the percentage the latter represents of the former and their national ranking in England by that percentage;

(3) if he will set out region by region the hospital non-urgent in-patient waiting list in each health district, together with the numbers of non-urgent cases waiting more than a year, the percentage the latter represents of the former and their national ranking in England by that percentage;

Mr. Newton

I shall let the hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will place in the Library the replies he received from health authorities to his request for information on their proposals to reduce hospital in-patient waiting lists.

Mr. Newton

No. These were working documents which now require further development as a result of the increased resources which the Government are making available. Announcements on further action to reduce waiting lists will be made as soon as possible.