§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of cataract operations carried out in 1979 and in the latest year for which figures are available in each of the 14 health regions.
§ Mr. DorrellHealth authorities in England reported the following figures for 1988–89. The figures for 1979 are extracted from the 1979 hospital in-patient inquiry.
Estimated number of cataract operations by health region Region 1 1979 2 1988–89 Northern 3,400 4,800 Yorkshire 2,900 6,300 Trent 3,200 6,900 East Anglia 1,600 3,500 North West Thames 2,500 6,300 North East Thames 2,200 6,300 South East Thames 3,100 6,100 South West Thames 2,100 5,600 Wessex 2,500 5,800 Oxford 1,700 4,700 South Western 2,800 5,500 West Midlands 3,000 9,200 Mersey 1,600 3,700 North Western 4,600 7,000 Board of Governors (1979 only) 2,200 1 Source: 1979 hospital in-patient inquiry 2 Source: July 1989 planning statements—1988–89 outturn.