§ Mr. McGuireasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the present average length of time that a person living in the Ince constituency has to wait to be examined, under the National Health Service, on an out-patient basis by a consultant in the following specialities, namely, orthopaedic, general and ear, nose and throat surgery, urology, opthalamology, neurosurgery, paediatrics, general medicine, cardiology, dermatology, chest diseases, geriatrics, infectious diseases, gynaecology, and obstetrics; and how this compares with the average waiting time in the Manchester and Liverpool regional hospitals and nationally;
(2) what is the present average length of time that a person living in the Ince constituency has to wait to be treated as an in-patient, under the National Health Service, in any of the following specialities, namely, orthopaedic, general and ear, nose and throat surgery, urology, ophthalmology, neurosurgery, paediatrics, general medicine, cardiology, dermatology, chest diseases, infectious 252W diseases, geriatrics, gynaecology and obstetrics; and how this compares with the average waiting time in the Manchester and Liverpool regional hospitals and nationally.
§ Mr. AlisonWaiting time for in- and out-patients is influenced by the medical urgency and patients are seen and treated at once where this is essential. Comparative statistics in the form asked for by the hon. Member are not available and average waiting times do not provide a good measure of the service provided. I am however making further inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.