HC Deb 30 November 1976 vol 921 cc100-1W
48. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what is the average waiting time for patients awaiting operations in NHS hospitals.

Mr. Moyle

Current information on the average waiting time for patients awaiting operations in NHS hospitals is not available. The number of non-urgent cases awaiting admission to surgical specialties at 31st March 1976 was about 523,000. Of these 27 per cent. had been waiting for more than one year.