§ 75. Mr. Laneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further steps he is taking to shorten the waiting time for non-urgent operations.
§ Sir K. JosephThe increasing use of out-patient diagnostic and treatment services, including day surgery, will lead to the more effective use of resources. This, together with the increasing number of new hospitals and other facilities, should in its turn be reflected in a reduction of waiting time.
§ 79. Mrs. Sally Oppenheimasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the annual rate of increase in waiting lists for minor or non-urgent gynaecological operations since the implementation of the Abortion Act, 1968; and what was the annual rate of increase for the two years preceding it.
§ Mr. AlisonInformation in the precise form requested is not available but the following table shows gynaecological waiting lists and annual rates of change for the years in question except 1970, for which there are as yet no figures. Most of these patients will have been awaiting operations.
Year Number on waiting lists as at 31st December(England and Wales) Percentage rate of change 1965 76,138 1966 83,569 Increase 9.8 1967 83,297 Decrease 0.3 1968 82,787 Decrease 0.6 1969 89,470 Increase 8.0 The increase in 1969 is of doubtful significance because the basis on which the statistics were collected was changed that year to include patients who are booked for admission on some definite date ahead.