§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what basis decisions are made and resources allocated to reduce waiting lists for audiology and related specialisms;
(2) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside of 25 January, Official Report, column 857, whether he has considered collecting waiting list figures for audiology and related services at a national level to assist in determining the use of resources to reduce those waiting lists.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyIn-patient waiting list figures for the specialties of audiological medicine and ear, nose and throat are collected centrally. At 31 March 1989 there were no patients waiting for either in-patient or day case treatment in audiological medicine. We do not collect centrally figures on out-patient waiting lists but health authorities will have these locally as part of their management of local services.
Decisions on the use of resources to reduce waiting lists in particular specialties are for regional and special health authorities to take in the light of local circumstances. Resources available to them include their allocation from the waiting list fund to help tackle the problem of long waits for hospital treatment. Since 1987 regions have used nearly £5.5 million from the fund to treat additional patients in the ear, nose and throat specialty.