HC Deb 08 November 1983 vol 48 c74W
Mr. Cyril Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons are awaiting admission for operations at (a) Birch Hill hospital, Rochdale, and (b) the Infirmary, Rochdale; what is the waiting period involved; and if he will give the numbers by medical category.

Mr. John Patten

Numbers of persons awaiting admission to the surgical specialties at Birch Hill hospital, Rochdale, and the Infirmary, Rochdale, at the latest available date, held centrally, are given in the following table. Information on waiting time by individual hospitals is not available centrally.

Number of persons on the inpatient waiting list at 31 December 1982
Specialty Number waiting
Birch Hill Hospital
General surgery 214
Ear, nose and throat surgery 142
Ophthalmology 643
Plastic surgery 266
Oral surgery 261
Gynaecology 482
Total 2,008
The Infirmary
Traumatic and orthopaedic surgery 370
Total 370

Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients are on waiting lists in each of the regions of England.

Mr. John Patten

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 28 October 1983.—[Vol. 47, c.240–42.]