§ 48. Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the waiting lists for(a) hip, (b) ear, nose and throat, and (c) varicose vein operations in Scottish hospitals.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythWaiting list figures are not collected centrally for individual types of operation, but the all-Scotland waiting lists in the relevant specialties of orthopaedic, ENT and general surgery fell by 6 per cent., 15 per cent. and 7 per cent. respectively between March and September 1988. In Lanarkshire the reductions were 13 per cent., 27 per cent. and 28 per cent. respectively. Our wide-ranging waiting list initiatives in 1988–89 have made a substantial contribution to these reductions and the allocation of £3 million helped health boards to treat an extra 8,800 inpatients in the year to March 1989. For 1989–90 I have already allocated £6.5 million of the £7 million which I made available and health boards have set themselves a target to see or treat an extra 26,000 outpatients, 17,250 inpatients and 1,800 day cases. This is in addition to the action which boards themselves are continuing to take to increase the number of patients treated. The biggest allocations have been for orthopaedic and general surgery.