§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is(a) the total waiting list, (b) the longest time any patient had to wait and (c) the numbers waiting by number of months' wait for ear, nose and throat department at the Inverclyde royal hospital over the last four years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 10 March 1989]: The information available is set out in the tables.
(a) In-patient waiting list as at 31 March Numbers 1985 329 1986 358 1987 462 1988 1253
(b) The longest waiting time for those discharged during the year Year Longest waiting time (months) Mean waiting time (months) 1984 36.4 3.8 1985 46.5 3.6 1986 36.8 3.0 1987 54.4 3.5
(c) Number of People on the waiting list by time spent on the waiting list at 31 March 19881 Number Under three months 104 Three months to six months 50 Six months to nine months 38 Nine months to one year 25 One year to two years 31 Over two years 5 Total 253 1 The altered statistical system on which these figures are collected is explained in ISD statistical bulletin 1/88. This information is not available for earlier years and is not collected for deferred or repeat admissions.