§ Mr. LansleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts do not follow Department of Health guidance on short notice appointments; and what action he plans to take. [167709]
§ Mr. HuttonWe expect all national health service organisations to comply with waiting times guidance on reasonable offers of an appointment or an offer of admission. issued in dataset change notice 07/2003, February 2003. As part of its recent spot-check exercise, the Audit Commission found a small number of trusts were not fully complying with this guidance. Issues identified by the spot-checks will be addressed in action plans agreed between local auditors and trusts.