§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of NHS hospitals and trusts had published on or before 1 April their current maximum admission times for each specialty; and which hospital or trust had the longest and which one had the shortest waiting time at 1 April in each specialty;
(2) if she will list the health authorities in England which at 1 April (a) had and (b) had not published detailed information on local health services including quality standards and maximum waiting times.
§ Mr. SackvilleThis information is not available centrally. From 1 April. under the patients charter, patients have a right to be given detailed information on local health services. Health authorities are required to publish information about local health services including national and local charter standards and maximum waiting times. From 1 April 1993, health authorities will also have to publish information about their performance in relation to national and local charter standards.
The national health service management executive will be asking regional health authorities to notify them of any instances where information as set out in the patients charter is not made freely available to the public.