HC Deb 23 July 1974 vol 877 cc419-20W
Mr. Woof

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest figures of people on the waiting lists for treatment in hospitals in England and Wales.

Dr. Owen

545,396 at 31st December 1973. This compares with 509,884 in 1972; 525,892 in 1971; 555,883 in 1970; 561,365 in 1969.

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the duration of delay currently experienced in awaiting hospital attention in South Yorkshire and how this compares with the national average.

Waiting periods for admission in these specialties are as follows:
0–3 months 4–6 months 7–12 months Over 12 months
Barnsley AHA
General Medicine 2 2
General Surgery 214 125 68 24
Orthopaedic 73 8 1
Ear, Nose and Throat 176 107 176 164
Gynaecology 103 76 97 73
Doncaster AHA
General Medicine 1
General Surgery 347 225 276 520
Orthopaedic 142 127 129 244
Ear, Nose and Throat 318 97 3
Gynaecology 192 91 100 237
Rotherham AHA
General Medicine 1 2 5
General Surgery 239 190 113 487
Orthopaedic 48 45 46 176
Ear, Nose and Throat 40 70 48 115
Gynaecology 57 25 36 315
Sheffield AHA
General Medicine 36 1 1 1
General Surgery 606 247 296 366
Orthopaedic 495 341 483 835
Ear, Nose and Throat 249 143 263 481
Gynaecology 600 100 20 4
National statistics of this type are not available. Waiting time varies according to the circumstances of each case, and averages over broad categories of medical work would have little meaning.

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are being taken to reduce the waiting period currently applying for those requiring hospital attention in South Yorkshire.

Dr. Owen

Waiting time for new non-urgent out-patient appointment varies according to speciality and area. Maximum waiting times for certain specialties in South Yorkshire are shown below:

Maximum Waiting Time (Weeks)
Barnsley AHA
General Medicine 6
General Surgery 4
Orthopaedic 20
Ear, Nose and Throat 10
Gynaecology 3
Doncaster AHA
General Medicine 8
General Surgery 15
Orthopaedic 21
Ear, Nose and Throat 3
Gynaecology 6
Rotherham AHA
General Medicine 6
General Surgery 11
Orthopaedic 13
Ear, Nose and Throat 10
Gynaecology 2
Sheffield AHA
General Medicine 4
General Surgery 8
Orthopaedic 18
Ear, Nose and Throat 13
Gynaecology 3

Dr. Owen

The problem of long waiting times for admission exists in many parts of the country and I am considering what can best be done about it.

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