§ Mr. SillarsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average time a National Health Service patient would wait for first treatment at the Scottish lithotriptor centre.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythPatients with severe symptoms requiring immediate treatment are treated immediately. Other urgent patients are treated within three to four weeks. Patients whose symptoms are less severe may have to wait up to one year for treatment although if their condition deteriorates their priority for treatment will be reassessed. Recent changes at the unit have enabled more patients to be treated each week. This should help to reduce waiting times.