§ Mr. Ronnie CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of persons currently on waiting lists for hospital in-patient treatment.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[pursuant to her reply, 16 April 1991]: The new figures for 30 September 1990 show that 705,706 patients were waiting for in-patient treatment, excluding those who had asked for their admission to be deferred, a 1 per cent. reduction since March 1990. The number waiting over a year for treatment fell by 2 per cent. in the six months to September 1990. This is on top of the 9 per cent. reduction in the previous 12 months. Provisional figures show the downward trend is gaining momentum, with a 12 per cent. reduction expected in the five months to February this year.