§ 59. Mr. Evennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to seek to reduce hospital waiting lists in the south-east Thames health region.
§ Mr. NewtonIn July 1986 my right hon. Friend asked the chairman of regional health authorities to review waiting lists within their districts, and to report on current measures to reduce waiting lists and times and proposals for future action within existing resources. In November last year regions were asked to submit bids against the £50 million waiting list fund for 1987–88 and 1988–89 established to assist progress to this end. Details of the first year's allocation of £25 million were announced by my right hon. Friend on 17 February.
South East Thames regional health authority will receive £2.04 million in 1987–88. This will allow hospitals in the region to treat an additional 11,300 waiting list cases through 31 separate projects. These will include 830 extra joint replacements and 808 extra cataract operations. This is in addition to measures already being taken to reduce waiting lists from within existing resources.