§ 34. Mrs. Rosie BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to promote the flow of up-to-date information on waiting times for each speciality between health authorities by means of a computer network; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonWe have no present plans to set up a national computerised database of waiting times for hospital treatment. However, as part of the waiting list initiative we are encouraging health authorities to provide general practitioners with regularly updated information about waiting times in their own and neighbouring districts. Some authorities are using computer systems for this purpose.