§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the average waiting period for patients awaiting the removal of cataracts.
§ Mr. NewtonIn 1985, the latest year for which information is available centrally, the estimated median interval between the time a patient was placed on the waiting list and admission to a National Health Service hospital in England for operation on an eye lens was 16 weeks.
Number of patients treated in years 1982 to 1986—all specialties 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 Hartlepool General Hospital Discharges and deaths 8,069 9,200 10,705 13,108 13,779 Day cases 2,551 2,639 2,535 3,507 3,758 Out-patient attendances 53,820 56,913 65,010 71,646 71,273 Dryburn Hospital Discharges and deaths 12,543 13,795 14,106 14,908 14,974 Day cases 1,825 2,464 2,469 2,698 3,262 Out-patient attendances 101,030 104,384 106,549 106,480 107,935 Sunderland Royal Infirmary Discharges and deaths 7,154 7,912 8,204 7,935 8,526 Day cases 690 938 975 1,137 1,245 Out-patient attendances 80,360 85,124 93,792 97,663 94,630 Sunderland General Hospital Discharges and deaths 25,269 26,950 27,898 28,857 28,286 Day cases 1,709 2,503 2,566 2,991 3,751 Out-patient attendances 122,157 128,920 131,829 135,758 140,601 Source: SH3 1982–1986.