§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average annual waiting list for hospital treatment in England in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. John PattenThe available information is given in the table. The increase between September 1981 and September 1982 is attributable to the industrial action in the Health Service during 1982. We welcome the progress that the National Health Service has achieved, and which is reflected in the latest figures, in starting to regain the ground which was lost.
Number of persons on NHS hospital inpatient waiting lists in England on 30 September Year Number 1979 698,450 1980 635,881 1981 619,393 1982 725,865 1983 *704,500 * Provisional estimate
§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average annual waiting list for hospital treatment in the Wessex region for each of the last five years.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 6 March 1984, c. 564]: The available information is given in the table.
Wessex Regional Health Authority Number of persons on inpatient waiting lists Year 31st March 30th September 1979 40,589 40,222 1980 39,214 38,173 1981 39,907 40,275 1982 40,966 45,317 1983 46,689 *46,879 * Provisional