HC Deb 03 March 1998 vol 307 c586W
Mr. Moore

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland had been on waiting lists for NHS treatment for(a) nought to three months, (b) three to six months, (c) six to nine months, (d) nine to 12 months and (e) over 12 months, on (i) 1 January 1998, (ii) 1 October 1997, (iii) 1 July 1997, (iv) 1 April 1997, (v) 1 January 1997 and (vi) 1 January 1996. [31070]

Mr. Galbraith

Information on the number of patients with a guarantee and the time spent on waiting lists for NHS treatment in Scotland in the last 2 years is provided in the table. Data on waiting lists are recorded centrally via a census undertaken at the end of each quarter. Information is not available centrally on the number of patients waiting on the first day of each quarter.

NHS patients on waiting lists at Scottish hospitals: number and time spent on waiting lists
Time spent on waiting list (months)1
Under over
3 3 to 6 6 to 9 9 to 12 12
31 December 1995 52,816 16,514 7,243 3,330 961
31 December 1996 52,486 16,546 7,598 3,348 272
31 March 1997 53,553 18,049 7,912 2,984 22
30 June 1997 54,155 17,602 7,729 3,127 142
30 September 1997 52,432 18,704 8,160 3,330 235
31 December 19972 54,454 17,649 8,687 3,748 393
1 Length of time patients with a waiting time guarantee have waited on the waiting list.
2 Figures for 31 December 1997 for Yorkhill NHS Trust are not yet available, 30 September 1997 figures for that Trust have been used.

Source:

SMR3, ISD Scotland.