HC Deb 12 January 1988 vol 125 cc249-50W
49. Mr. Flannery

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in the area of the Sheffield district health authority have had operations in private hospitals under the scheme to cut down waiting lists for operations in National Health Service hospitals since the scheme's inception.

Mr. Newton

As at 31 December 1987, 20 patients from NHS waiting lists had had operations in private hospitals as part of the waiting list initiative, at a cost of £20,000. It is likely that this number will increase by some 100 by the end of the financial year. The Sheffield health district's initial waiting list fund allocation of £411,700 is planned to treat over 1,900 additional in-patients and some 2,660 extra out-patients in 1987–88.