§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the percentage of those waiting for non-urgent operations who wait longer than(a) six months, (b) one year and (c) two years, (i) nationally and (ii) in the South Manchester health authority area;
(2) what was the number and percentage of patients waiting for non-urgent operations in 1980, 1985 and 1990 (i) nationally and (ii) in the South Manchester health authority area.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe information requested is given in the tables. Since March 1987 information on waiting lists has not been classified according to urgency of condition. Figures for 1990 therefore relate to all patients waiting for in-patient treatment in the surgical acute specialties.
153WIt is the time people wait which is important. Since 1980 the number of patients waiting for over one year for in-patient treatment in the surgical acute specialties has fallen by 1 per cent. in South Manchester health authority and by nearly 11 per cent. in England as a whole.
Numbers of non-urgent cases waiting on surgical specialty lists for in-patient treatment Year England South Manchester March 1980 580,596 5,781 March 1985 614,217 4,875
Total numbers waiting on surgical specialty lists for in-patient treatment Year England South Manchester March 1990 723,447 7,122
Percentage waiting on surgical specialty lists for in-patient treatment by time waiting at March 1990 England South Manchester 6 months + 45 54 12 months + 24 32 24 months + 9 15 Source: KH06/7/7A—March 1990
SBH 203—1980 and 1985