HC Deb 06 July 1973 vol 859 cc233-4W
Mr. Waddington

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take to reduce the length of time many people are having to wait for admission to hospital for in-patient treatment.

Sir K. Joseph

One of the most serious problems in the National Health Service is—and has been for years—the length of time many people have to wait for admission to hospitals as in-patients, particularly in the surgical specialties.

At the end of 1972 the total number of people on surgical waiting lists in England and Wales was about 480,000, representing a fall of about 8 per cent. from the peak figure of 524,000 in 1969. Over the same period the number of in-patients treated in medical and surgical specialties rose by about one-third million, again about 8 per cent. Hospitals and their staff deserve much credit for their achievement in both increasing the numbers treated and—prior to the recent dispute—starting to cut the waiting time. Emergency cases and other patients requiring immediate treatment have continued to be admitted without delay.

However, a total waiting list of nearly 500,000 people, and more especially the length of time many stay on it before being admitted, remain matters of great concern to the Government and to the medical profession. Following a special statistical survey by the Department of Health and Social Security in 1971 a joint working party consisting of representatives of the joint consultants committee, of hospital administration, and of my Department was set up to consider the problem. The working party has firmly reported its conclusions that the problem of reducing waiting times to an acceptable level can and should be dealt with now, and has put forward a number of conclusions and recommendations on the ways of doing this. These conclusions, which have the support of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and myself, are now under study by the JCC which proposes to join with my Department and the Welsh Office in the promulgation to hospitals of specific objectives in reducing waiting times and guidance on ways of achieving those objectives. I understand that a review is also being undertaken in Scotland.

The fact that the waiting lists in many areas have increased again following the recent industrial dispute in the hospital service has naturally added emphasis both to the problem and to the wish on our part and on that of the JCC to issue sound advice to hospitals on ways to tackle it.