§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are on National Health Service waiting lists for hip joint replacements in the Merseyside regional health area at the latest date.
§ Mr. John PattenWaiting list information is available centrally by the specialty of treatment and not by operation. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the Mersey regional health authority who may be able to let him have the required information.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time for those awaiting a National Health Service hip joint replacement operation in the Merseyside regional health area at the latest date.
§ Mr. John PattenI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons were on National Health Service waiting lists for in-patient treatment in the Merseyside regional health area at the latest date; and what were the corresponding figures for 1981 and 1982, respectively.
§ Mr. John PattenThe information is given in the table. The increase in numbers between 1982 and 1983 reflects the consequences of industrial action in the Health Service in 1982.
Numbers of persons on NHS hospital waiting lists in the Mersey Regional Health Authority on 31 March Year Number 1981 33,082 1982 33,206 1983 36,187