§ Sir H. Harrisonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to reduce the waiting lists at the Ipswich and East Suffolk Hospital.
§ Mr. AlisonThe hospital management committee has under continuous review all aspects of the local hospital service. A reduction of 39 per cent. in the waiting list has, as a result, been achieved since 1st January, 1970. Additional facilities for day surgery are to be provided at the Heath Road wing of the Ipswich Hospital which are expected to reduce waiting lists still further.
§ Sir H. Harrisonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time at Ipswich and East Suffolk Hospital for beds for the various specialities for which figures are available.
§ Mr. AlisonInformation in the form requested is not available, but the following table gives the numbers of patients at the Ipswich Hospital who have waited for the times stated:
with a view to having it classified as an industrial disease.
§ Mr. DeanNo. Research into the various aspects of these diseases has been carried out over a wide field and includes surveys of their incidence among welders. 333W These surveys have not shown any variation among welders from the general incidence. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are extremely common among the general population and there is no evidence to suggest that they could satisfy the conditions for prescription as industrial diseases laid down in Section 56 of the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1965.