§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were waiting for hospital operations under the National Health Service in 1960, 1970, 1980, 1981 and at the latest date available.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe numbers of people on waiting lists for inpatient treatment in surgical specialties in England on 31 December of each year were:
Year Number 1960 401,216 1970 493,000 1980 611,748 *1981 †592,564 * 30 September.
† December figure not yet available.
The figure for 31 March 1982 is provisionally estimated at 600,000. Total waiting lists are estimated to have 305W increased by some 145,000 as a result of the dispute in the health services, but we have no information about the specific effect on surgical specialties.