§ 76. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that it is customary for some hospitals to keep out-patients waiting up to four hours before being attended to; and what steps are being taken to reduce this waiting time to a minimum.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI know that at some hospitals out-patients are often kept waiting for a long time and on 3rd June I sent a circular to hospital authorities in England and Wales asking them to review their existing arrangements with the object of eliminating unnecessary waiting time.