§ Mr. O'Brienasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of district health authorities with long and acute waiting lists; and what is being done to reduce such waiting lists.
§ Mr. NewtonDetails of the numbers of cases on National Health hospital waiting lists in each district health authority by specialty, degree of urgency and length of time on the list are given in the "Hospital In-Patient Waiting List at 30 September 1985, England, District Summaries", a copy of which is in the Library. My right hon. Friend has launched a drive to make major improvements in waiting lists and waiting times. As a first step the chairmen of regional health authorities have been asked to lead their districts in a review to establish the extent, nature and cause of any problems. They have been asked for reports by the end of October setting out action already taken and proposals to make a significant impact in the future.