HC Deb 29 February 2000 vol 345 cc219-20W
25. Mr. Paterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on acute waiting times. [110879]

Mr. Denham

The average waiting time for those on the in-patient list has fallen. At the end of December 1999, the average wait was 13 weeks, two weeks less than in June 1998.

We remain on track to achieve our manifesto commitment to reduce in-patient waiting lists to 100,000 below the inherited level of 1.158 million. The in-patient waiting list is now 50,000 below the level inherited.