§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have been waiting for an operation for more than a year in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [7235]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesAt 30 September 1996, 5,303 people have been waiting more than a year to be admitted to hospital in Wales as an in-patient or day case. The number of these who were waiting for operations is not available centrally. However, it is estimated that, of the 253,000 in-patient and day cases in 1995–96 where an operation was performed and the waiting time recorded, 89,400 —3 per cent.—had waited more than a year.