§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to ensure that there is no geographical quota which discriminates in favour of any area health authority being able to benefit disproportionately from the three specialist treatment centres for: hip and knee replacement at Rhydlafar hospital, hernias and varicose vein surgery at Bridgend general hospital and cataract surgery at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe targets set for each of the treatment centres reflect local waiting lists but otherwise do not discriminate in favour of the host authority.
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that general practitioners throughout Wales can refer their patients direct to the specialist treatment centre funded by his Department for cataract surgery at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.
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§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe right of general medical practitioners to directly to refer patients to the three treatment centres is ensured by the contractual agreements negotiated between the Welsh Office and the centres.