§ 36. Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans are being made for reducing the time it now takes to obtain an out-patient appointment at the General Hospital, Birmingham.
§ Mr. AlisonEarly appointments can be obtained in most specialties. Waiting 63W times are continually reviewed and general practitioners are informed of the waiting times on all consultants' lists to assist them in referral of their patients. Urgent cases are seen without delay.
A new out-patient department is included in the planned development of the Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, due to start in 1973–74, and this will help to improve out-patient facilities.