§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people are currently on hospital waiting lists for day surgery in the Wessex regional health authority;
(2) how many people have been on hospital waiting lists in the Wessex regional health authority for more than one and two years from the latest available date.
§ Mr. NewtonI am sorry I cannot give the hon. Member all the information he seeks. At 31 March 1986, the latest date for which information is available centrally, the number of cases on the waiting list for more than one year for admission to NHS hospitals in Wessex was 10,164. Statistical information on cases awaiting day surgery will be collected centrally from 1 April 1987 when the recommendations of the steering group on health services information are implemented. The hon. Member may wish to write to the Chairman of the Wessex regional health authority for the rest of the information he requires.
§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of full-time ancilliary workers working for the Wessex regional health authority for each of the last four years.
§ Mr. NewtonThe table shows all ancillary staff directly employed by Wessex regional health authority during the last four years:
Ancillary staff in post in Wessex regional health authority1 At 30 September Whole time equivalent2 1983 8,590 1984 8,050 1985 7,580 19863 6,620 Source: DHSS Annual Census of NHS non-Medical Manpower. Notes: 1 On 1 April 1984 some 150 (wte) Operating Department Assistants were re-classified from Ancillary to Professional and Technical staff group. These figures have not been adjusted for this re-classification. 2 Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 whole time equivalents. 3 Provisional.
§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have been added to the outpatients appointment list of hospitals in the Wessex regional health authority over the last six months for which figures are available.
§ Mr. NewtonI am sorry I cannot give the hon. member the information he seeks. It is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the Wessex regional health authority for the information requested.