§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to improve the waiting time for a NHS eye appointment at the Leicester Royal Infirmary; and what is the average amount of time a patient has to wait on the waiting list at the present moment.
§ Dr. OwenThe Leicestershire Area Health Authority (Teaching) appointed an additional consultant ophthalmologist last year and plans to provide additional beds and a new out-patient department early in 1978. The average waiting time is 20 weeks, but urgent cases are seen within two weeks.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time before a NHS patient receives a consultation in the orthopaedic department at the Leicester Royal Infirmary; and what are the total number of patients still awaiting consultation at the current date.
§ Dr. OwenThe average waiting time is not readily available. Urgent cases are normally seen within a week and the maximum waiting time for non-urgent cases is 20 months. There were 2,240 patients on the waiting list at 30th June.