§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give for England the numbers of people on waiting lists on 30 September 1987 and at the end of each subsequent six-month period, for admission for(a) in-patient and (b) day case treatment and the numbers on each occasion who were categorised as (i) self-deferred, (ii) waiting under 12 months, (iii) waiting 12 to 24 months and (iv) waiting over two years.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe information requested is given in the Department of Health's statistical bulletins which are available from the Library. From March 1992, self-deferred cases are included in the total number waiting.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the reasons for the differences between the figures given for the numbers of people on waiting lists in March and September of 1988 to 1991 in her Department's statistical bulletin 2(5)92 and those given in statistical bulletin 2(8)92.
§ Mr. SackvilleIn statistical bulletin 2(5)92 and in previous bulletins, figures for self-deferred cases were370W shown separately. From March 1992, self-deferred cases are included in the overall total waiting. This is consistent with the provisional figures from regional health authorities published quarterly.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish her estimates for each six-month period from April 1987 of(a) the numbers of people admitted from waiting lists to hospital for in-patient treatment, (b) the numbers of people removed from in-patient waiting lists for reasons other than treatment, (c) the numbers of people admitted from waiting lists for day case treatment and (d) the numbers of people removed from day case waiting lists for reasons other than treatment.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe information requested, which is only available from 1988, is given in the table.
Most removals are due to health authorities validating their waiting lists. It is good management practice to validate lists regularly to ensure they include only those who need treatment. Many patients on waiting lists no longer need to be admitted for treatment because, for example, they have moved or had their treatment elsewhere. Validation leads to fewer cancelled operations and faster treatment for those who need it.
Patients waiting for admission: England Thousands Figures—six months period ending Number treated from waiting list Number removed for other reasons (not admitted) Ordinary admissions 1987 September 1— 1— 1988 March 924.7 69.2 September 941.4 72.1 1989 March 938.9 86.3 September 939.5 92.7 1990 March 934.2 1030 September 910.6 101.6 1991 March 888.3 125.4 September 918.4 115.4 1992 March 938.8 157.8 Day cases 1987 September 1— 1— 1988 March 353.3 15.9 September 359.2 18.4 1989 March 392.6 23.9 September 420.5 26.8 1990 March 454.3 31.0 September 465.6 36.4 1991 March 496.6 43.5 September 535.0 47.6 1992 March 601.3 67.3 1 As Korner based figures were first collected in September 1987 six months flow data was not available until March 1988.