§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent exchanges have taken place between his Department and National Health Service managers on initiatives to reduce waiting lists for National Health Service treatment; what further decisions will be announced before the autumn; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonThe current initiative to make significant improvements in waiting times for hospital treatment is a high priority for Ministers, the National Health Service Management Board and for managers and clinicians in the health service. It features regularly on the agendas of meetings between the Department and health services managers, to make sure that improvements are made this year and that efforts and resources are targetted most effectively for next year. This will be the aim of any further decisions to be announced.
§ Mr. Amessasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on current initiatives to reduce the waiting lists for joint replacements.
§ Mr. NewtonThe projects supported from the £25 million waiting list fund in 1987–88 include at least 5,000 extra hip replacements. In 1985 37,650 such operations were carried out in England, an increase of 34 per cent., compared with 1979. The aim is to achieve a total of 48,000 operations per year by 1990, that is 1,500 operations per million population per year.