§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2002,Official Report, column 1121W, on waiting lists, when the results of the regional office reviews of the listed trusts will be (a) completed and (b) published. [57024]
§ Mr. HuttonThe National Audit Office (NAO) report "Inappropriate Adjustments to NHS Waiting Lists" recommended that the Department investigate trusts where more than 10 per cent. of patients are suspended and which have more than 2 per cent. of patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment. There were 13 trusts that met both these criteria at the time of the report.
An investigation was already taking place in Royal United Hospitals Bath, one of the 13 trusts that met the NAO criteria. This commenced in December 2001 with the findings being made public in a press release (ref: 2001/0201) on 3 May 2002.
Between December 2001 and early May 2002, regional offices reviewed the waiting list position at the 12 other national health service trusts and found no evidence of inappropriate adjustments to waiting lists taking place. The findings of these reviews were also announced on 3 May.