§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the British Medical Association about the 20 per cent. increase in outpatient waiting list times in the last year; how he accounts for the increase; what action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 27 July 1984, c. 852–53]: The only communication about outpatient waiting list times received from the British Medical Association by my right hon. Friend was dated 20 September. He was, however, already aware of the statement published by the association on 17 September and had asked for details to be obtained of the survey on which the statement was based. These have recently been received and are being studied by officials.
The results of the association's survey are surprising in view of the increase in overall National Health Service outpatient activity in 1983. New outpatient attendances that year were over 200,000–2.6 per cent.—above those for 1982, and the total number of attendance at outpatient clinics increased by nearly 900,000–2.4 per cent.—to over 36 million.