§ 29. Mr. C. Osborneasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a resident of Cleethorpes, details of whom have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Louth, has been told she must wait two years before she can be admitted to hospital for an operation; how far this delay is general; What steps he is taking to reduce such waiting periods: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PowellThis patient, who requires a minor operation on her finger, was told that she would normally have to wait about 18 months but might be admitted sooner if she could come at short notice. I have no national figure of the average delay for non-urgent orthopaedic surgery but where waiting lists are lengthening, I expect regional hospital boards to take account of this in preparing their building programmes.