§ Mr. Loydenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time that National Health Service patients have to wait to see a consultant in the orthopaedic departments of hospitals in the Liverpool Area Health Authority after their referral by their own general practitioner.
§ Dr. OwenAverages are misleading since waiting time vary according to the consultant. The following figures indicate the range of waiting times at 31st March for non-urgent orthopaedic out-patient appointments at hospitals in the Liverpool Area.
Sefton Hospital 12–13 weeks Royal Southern Hospital 6–8 weeks Broadgreen Hospital 15–16 weeks Liverpool Royal Infirmary 1–16 weeks Mill Road Hospital 4–6 weeks Alder Hey Hospital 3 weeks Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital 1–3 weeks Urgent cases are seen without delay.