§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many National Health Service patients have been sent to private or Army hospitals in an effort to reduce surgery waiting lists.
§ Mr. MellorOver the past five years, service hospitals have treated each year on average 46,000 NHS in-patients and day cases and provided for 237,000 NHS out-patient attendances. In 1986 (latest available figures) some 8,800 NHS surgical patients were treated under contractual arrangements with the independent sector.
In 1987–88, the waiting list fund enabled an additional 4,500 NHS in-patients and day cases from the waiting list and 680 extra NHS out-patients to be treated in service hospitals or the independent sector. In the current year, 6,500 additional in-patients and day cases and 400 extra out-patients are planned to be treated in this way.