§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has for shortening waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery in Birmingham.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe five Birmingham health districts are between them receiving £828,000 from the waiting list fund which will enable their hospitals to carry out 1,500–2,000 extra orthopaedic operations and take over 400 additional out-patient cases from the waiting list in 1987–88. The precise number of procedures performed will depend on case-mix. The projects being supported include the provision of an additional operating theatre at the Royal Orthopaedic hospital (Woodlands) which will have a continuing impact on the number of patients treated. In addition the Bromsgrove and Redditch District Health Authority is receiving £120,000 to treat 150 orthopaedic in-patients from the South Birmingham waiting lists, the people living within the East Birmingham District will benefit from a project to carry out over 130 extra orthopaedic operations for £75,000 in the Solihull DHA.