§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average waiting time for admission to hospital of patients in Scotland under the National Health Service; and what steps he proposes to take to cut down the waiting time and the number on the waiting list.
§ Mr. Ross:The average waiting time for admission to hospital (other than to mental, mental deficiency and maternity beds) was just over 10 weeks for patients who were discharged from or died in hospital during 1966 following admission from a waiting list. This covers only about one third of hospital patients: two thirds are admitted other than from waiting lists. Regional hospital boards 597W regularly review their waiting lists and take such steps, long-term and short-term, as seem to them to be appropriate.