§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting list time for each of the main specialities at the Basingstoke district general hospital for each of the last five years.
§ Mr. MoyleThe length of time a patient may have to wait depends upon the degree of urgency for treatment and the length of the appropriate waiting list. Urgent cases are generally admitted without delay. At Basingstoke district general hospital non-urgent cases may currently wait up to 18 months for general surgery; up to 12 months for gynaecology; up to six months for oral surgery; up to 27 months for ear, nose and throat; up to seven months for orthopaedics; and up to five for opthalmology. There is no waiting list for general medicine. Comparative figures for previous years are not readily available.