§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people within the catchment area of the Barnsley group of hospitals are waiting for X-ray examinations, stating the different categories and length of waiting time;
(2) if he will institute an inquiry into the reasons for the long waiting list of people awaiting X-ray examinations at the Barnsley group of hospitals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonAt the Barnsley District General Hospital there are 60 outpatients awaiting barium meal examination and 10 awaiting barium enemas. The average waiting time for these two examinations, which are the only types of
204WThe numbers of references to Medical Appeal Tribunals and appeals on a point of law for the periods requested are given below. The figures for 1971 may not be representative due to the disruption of postal services.
X-ray examinations involving any delay, are 13 and 6 weeks respectively. At the Beckett Hospital there are 4 inpatients and 176 outpatients waiting for barium meal examinations with respective average waiting times of 7 days and 7 months. For barium enema examinations the waiting list is 1 inpatient and 74 outpatients, with waiting times of 7 days and 6 months respectively. There is no delay for urgent cases at either hospital.
The Sheffield Regional Hospital Board is already investigating the position, with particular reference to the amount of consultant time allocated to the Barnsley hospitals.