HC Deb 30 March 1987 vol 113 cc412-3W
Mr. Loyden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give the number of urgent cases awaiting admission to hospitals within the Mersey regional health authority at the latest date for which figures are available;

(2) if he will state the number of women waiting for gynaecological treatment in the Mersey regional health authority.

Mr. Newton

The latest information available centrally is included in a bound volume of the hospital waiting lists for health authorities in England at 30 September 1986, copies of which have been placed in the Library. For current information, the hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the Mersey regional health authority.

Mr. Loyden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the number of beds available for patients within the Mersey regional health authority for the calendar years 1985 and 1986.

Mrs. Currie

The latest information available centrally is included in the booklet "Hospital Statistics— Form SH3, National and Regional Summaries for 1985", copies of which have been placed in the Library. For more recent information the hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the Mersey regional health authority.

Mr. Loyden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to reduce hospital waiting lists in the Mersey regional health authority.

Mr. Newton

Mersey regional health authority will receive £1.35 million in 1987–88 from the national £25 million waiting list fund. This will allow hospitals in the region to treat over 7,700 additional waiting list cases through 19 projects. Full details of these projects have been placed in the Library. The improvements planned with the help of the waiting list fund are in addition to measures already being taken within the region to improve waiting lists and times from within existing resources.