Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average waiting period for a hospital bed in the Edinburgh area for patients requiring treatment of a non-emergency nature.
§ Mr. BuchanIn 1966 the average waiting time for a hospital bed in the Edinburgh area (other than for mental, mental deficiency and maternity beds) was 76 days for patients who were discharged from or died in hospital following admission from a waiting list. This covers only 28 per cent. of hospital patients in the Edinburgh area: the remaining 72 per cent. are admitted otherwise than from waiting lists.