HC Deb 12 March 1999 vol 327 cc409-10W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 1999,Official Report, columns 138–39, on waiting times, how many patients in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area had been waiting (a) 13 to 25 weeks and (b) more than 26 weeks to see a consultant at the end of December 1998. [73154]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 25 February 1999]: The number of people waiting 13 to 25 weeks to see a consultant was 1,848 at the end of December 1998; the number of people waiting over 26 weeks was 440 at the end of December 1998.

Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that the North Essex Health Authority publishes figures on waiting lists on the same basis as his Department. [73120]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 25 February 1999]: We are content that the waiting list figures North Essex Health Authority publishes are consistent with those collected by the Department and published by the Government Statistical Service.

However, we have asked the North Essex Health Authority to ensure that, when publishing waiting list figures for local trusts, it is made clear that the figures relate only to the health authority's own residents.

Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate discrepancies between the figures published by the North Essex Health Authority on the total number of people waiting for hospital treatment in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust Area and the figures published by his Department. [73119]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 25 February 1999]: We have compared figures published recently by the North Essex Health Authority with those collected by the Department and published by the Government Statistical Service and identified no discrepancies. However, whereas the Government Statistical Service publishes the health authority total, North Essex Health Authority also publishes the number of its residents waiting at each local National Health Service trust.

Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that health authorities publish hospital waiting list figures that are compatible with the figures published by his Department. [73118]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 25 February 1999]: National Health Service waiting list figures are collected from health authorities and NHS trusts by the Department and published by the Government Statistical Service. The data are subject to validation and any anomalies are investigated with the health authority or NHS trust concerned. We are not aware of health authorities publishing hospital waiting list figures differing from these figures.