§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any action can be taken to ensure that consultants provide information on their waiting list lengths when the consultant refuses to reveal them.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeRoutine waiting list information is compiled by health authorities from administrative records. Authorities have been encouraged to make this information available to local general practitioners, and I would expect them to do so.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure a common policy for the release of records of orthopaedic waiting lists at the North Staffordshire hospital and Leighton hospital.
§ Mr. John PattenIt is for individual health authorities to adopt their own system for releasing details of waiting lists to local general practitioners, but I shall draw the attention of the health authorities to the hon. Member's question.