§ 52. Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has caused the increase to 115,000 in waiting lists for hospital beds in London.
§ Mr. John PattenOut of the 31 London health districts, waiting lists decreased in 12 districts between March 1983 and March 1984 and increased in 19 districts. We do not have sufficient information to identify any significant trends but the increase over the year in the numbers awaiting treatment must be seen alongside the evidence of increased patient services being provided in the NHS in London. The latest figures, for the year to December 1983, show an increase over the previous year of 27,946 in the number of inpatients treated, 19,539 more day cases and 104,270 more outpatient attendances in acute specialties.