§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons were on hospital waiting lists in England in March 1984 and September 1983, respectively.
§ Mr. John PattenHospital inpatient waiting list figures for 31 March 1984 are not yet available. For the September 1983 figures I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) and for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 11 April, at columns290–300.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will collate and publish hospital waiting lists four times a year.
§ Mr. John PattenInpatient waiting lists relating to district health authorities on 31 March and 30 September are collected twice a year and summaries are placed in the Library of the House. Less detailed information on waiting lists at individual hospitals on 31 Decemer is collected annually and national and regional summaries are published. The health services information steering group has recommended in its first report that a revised district summary of patients waiting admission should be submitted regularly to the Department. Health authorities have been asked to plan on the basis that the first report should be implemented by April 1987 and it is our intention to collect the recommended summary on a quarterly basis from 1987.