§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about the number of operating theatre sessions cancelled between March and June 1986 owing to the unavailability of consultants in the Wakefield district health authority; which consultants were involved; what reasons were given for their unavailability; what action has been taken to prevent a recurrence; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieManagement of operating theatres is a matter for individual health authorities and the information requested is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may therefore wish to approach the chairman of Wakefield health authority for the information he seeks.
Wakefield was one of the authorities mentioned in the recent Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the use of operating theatres which was the subject of a Public Accounts Committee hearing on 29 February. A copy of the report is in the Library; the minutes of evidence will be published in due course. I understand that since the NAO study the health authority has taken action designed to increase utilisation rates.