§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will rank health authorities in England in order of the highest waiting times for hospital operations, according to the numbers waiting(a) over six months and (b) over 12 months for in-patient treatments. [64537]
§ Mr. HuttonInformation about waiting times in the current year is not available by health authority. We are currently progressing work to collect waiting times data from primary care trusts to reflect the new organisations that came into being in April 2002.
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for a patient to see(a) a general practitioner and (b) a consultant in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [65581]
§ Mr. HuttonData on actual or average patient waiting times to see a general practitioner are not collected or held by the Department.
From September 2001 data are being collected quarterly on the lead time for the first available appointment with each GP practice.
From the March 2002 survey, results showed that 75 per cent. of practices, with appointment systems in place, could offer a patient an appointment with a GP within two working days.
The table shows the average (median) waiting time for patients to be seen for their first out-patient appointment following GP written referral. Over this period the number of out-patient attendance's have increased by 407,000 (5.3 per cent.)
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>Average (median) consultant out-patient waiting times: NHS Trusts, England Median wait (weeks) 1997–98 6.3 1998–99 6.8 1999–2000 7.3 2000–01 7.3 2001–02 7.2 Source:
Department of Health form QM08