§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the Government's commitments on changes in out-patient and in-patient waiting list numbers and waiting times. [108160]
§ Mr. DenhamWe are determined to reduce in-patient and out-patient waiting lists and times. The waiting list is now 87,000 below the level inherited. We remain on track to achieve our manifesto commitment to reduce waiting lists by 100,000 from the level inherited. As waiting lists have fallen, so have waiting times. The average waiting time of those on the list was 12 weeks at the end of November 1999—three weeks less than at June 1998.
We are taking action to reduce out-patient waiting times. Patients referred urgently with suspected breast cancer can now be reassured they will not wait longer than two weeks for an out-patient appointment. We are also determined to cut the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for a first out-patient appointment.