§ Mr. A. Cecil WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether those patients who have been given a date for admission to hospital are included in the general waiting list; how many patients are currently on the general waiting list in all hospitals in Northern Ireland; and how many patients have been given a date for admission.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 1 March 1988]: General waiting lists include those patients who have been given a date for admission to hospital. At 30 September 1987, there were 25,625 awaiting admission to all hospitals in Northern Ireland.
Information on the number of these patients who have been given a date for admission could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.