§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for each year since 1970 and for each region the inpatient waiting list at 31 December.
§ Mr. John PattenThe information requested is given in the following table. The increase between December 1981 and December 1982 is attributable to the industrial action in the health service during 1982. Figures for 31 December 1983 are not yet available but a provisional national estimate for 30 September 1983 was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) on 9 March. [Official Report, Vol. 55, c. 744]. This latest estimate of 704,500 shows clearly that the NHS is beginning to regain the ground which was lost during 1982.
61W
Regional Health Authorities* 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974* 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982* Boards of Governors and Special Health Authorities * * * * 7,339 7,451 7,619 8,011 7,659 7,479 8,396 7,831 7,984 England 525,926 493,731 479,199 508,617 517,424 588,483 607,141 602,091 682,444 687,686 640,110 625,147 746,086 * Figures prior to 1974 relate to Regional Health Boards (including teaching). Because of NHS restructuring in 1974 and 1982 the regional figures are not strictly comparable over the whole period.