Mr. Ted GarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time for patients awaiting eye operations in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and what was the number five years ago.
§ Mr. NewtonThe estimated median waiting interval between the time an in-patient was placed on the waiting list and admission to a National Health Service hospital in the Newcastle district health authority area for an eye operation was three weeks in 1980 and 12 weeks in 1985, the latest year for which information in this form is available. The number of eye patients treated in Newcastle over the same period rose from 3,608 in 1980 to 3,737 in 1985.