§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Socal Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of people awaiting different types of operations to be performed in hospitals in the Manchester Regional Hospital Board area and the average waiting time for each patient.
§ Mr. AlisonSeparate statistics of numbers of persons awaiting operations are not available, but the number of persons awaiting admission to hospitals coming under the Manchester Regional Hospital Board in the specialties shown as at 31st December 1972 were:
Waiting times for admission vary according to specialty and the circumstances of individual cases and averages, therefore, have little meaning.
Specialty Number on Waiting List General Surgery 17,259 Ear Nose and Throat 13,630 Traumatic and Orthopaedic Surgery 9,225 Ophthalmology 1,670 Dental Surgery 1,045 Gynaecology 9,289