§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department is monitoring health authorities' reviews of hospital waiting lists so as to assess the extent to which reductions are achieved by increases in efficiency in treating more patients; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonWe have asked health authorities to look at the nature, cause and extent of waiting list problems in every district and to take action to make significant improvements. In many cases this will be through making more effective use of existing facilities. Health authorities have also submitted plans for treating over 100,000 waiting list cases supported by the £25 million waiting list fund for 1987–88. We shall closely monitor the achievement of those plans.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many clerks have been appointed by health 64W authorities in England on short-term contracts during 1986–87 to examine hospital waiting lists and to report on progress to regional health authorities or his Department.
§ Mr. NewtonThis information is not held centrally.
§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were removed from hospital and in-patient waiting lists, by district, for the years 1984, 1985 and 1986, respectively.
§ Mr. NewtonI am sorry I cannot give the hon. Member the information that she seeks. Statistical information on cases removed from in-patient waiting lists will be collected centrally from 1 April 1987 when the recommendations of the steering group on health services information are implemented.