§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the present state of progress made by the West Midlands regional health authority on the pilot scheme for the use of computerised hospital waiting lists.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe pilot study of a central collection and communication system for waiting times by the West Midlands regional health authority is under way. The project co-ordinator has been in post since 1985 setting up the system. Arrangements have been made to collect information about waiting times for general surgery from the hospitals in participating districts. The computer will convert this into a form that can be readily understood by the 100 selected general practitioners in districts with long waiting times. The first batch of information should be issued shortly and this will be followed by monthly supplements.