§ 48. Sir David Rentonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she is aware that in Huntingdonshire the present waiting time for non-urgent appointments with some medical specialists is 101 weeks; what is the cause of this; and if she will take steps substantially to reduce this waiting period.
§ Dr. OwenWaiting times for non-urgent out-patient appointments with the168W consultants who attend Huntingdon County Hospital range from one week to 31 weeks. In Peterborough the longest waiting time for non-urgent patients is 105 weeks; this relates to one consultant whose three colleagues in the same specialty have waiting times of 28, 51 and 83 weeks.
Increases in waiting times during the last three months are mainly because during the industrial dispute with junior hospital doctors consultant attendances at outpatient clinics, and numbers of patients seen, had to be reduced. The district management team in consultation with the Medical Executive Committee is looking as a matter of urgency into waiting lists with a view to reducing waiting times.