HC Deb 22 July 2002 vol 389 cc748-9W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British servicemen have been waiting for more than one month for(a) an NHS operation or consultation and (b) admittance to a waiting list. [64817]

Dr. Moonie

Service patients in the United Kingdom are mainly treated in Defence Secondary Care Agency administered Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs) situated in NHS Trusts. Service patients can opt to be treated in other NHS hospitals and are referred

Waiting time
0–13 weeks 13+ weeks 0–3 months 3+ months Total waiting
Outpatients
Number of Service patients waiting1 1,916 437 2,353
Admitted patients2
Number of Service patients waiting3 1,464 1.029 2,493
1 Number of patients waiting at four MDHUs (Peterborough, Frimley Park, Derriford and Northallerton).
2 Inpatients plus daycases.
3 Number of patients waiting at all five MDHUs (Portsmouth, Peterborough, Frimley Park, Derriford and Northallerton).

This information is provided by MDHU host NHS Trusts. Patients are normally added to the outpatient waiting lists on receipt of a referral from their GP to a consultant. They are normally added to the admitted patient waiting list when the consultant decides that an admission is required.