§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients were waiting for in-patient treatment on 31 September 1987.
§ Mr. NewtonThe figures for the end of September 1987 show that, on a comparable basis with previous waiting list statistics, the in-patient waiting list was 662,000. This is 4 per cent. less than the March 1987 figure of 687,000, and 3 per cent. less than the September 1986 figure of 681,900.
As a result of changes resulting from the introduction of the new Korner NHS information system from April 1987, additional information is also available, for example on the number of patients with a booked date of admission, the number of patients who have put off the date of their operation, the number of patients admitted to hospital from the list, and the number of patients awaiting treatment as day cases.
A statistical bulletin describing this information more fully has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.