§ 8. Mr. Rogersasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on hospital waiting lists in Wales.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsI am encouraged by the substantial rise in the number of people treated by the NHS in Wales, including the 17.5 per cent. increase of inpatient cases in the five years to September 1984. I also welcome the 5.6 per cent. reduction in the year to September 1984 in the number of urgent inpatient cases awaiting treatment. Progress still needs to be made in tackling the numbers of outpatients and reducing waiting times for some specialties and in some areas. The Welsh Office is encouraging health authorities to take the necessary management action for which they are responsible.