§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will state for each health authority in England as at I April 1992 whether it has published a guaranteed maximum waiting time for patients seeking(a) hip replacements, (b) cataract removals and (c) hernia repairs; and for those authorities that had done so what waiting times were guaranteed by each authority.
§ Mr. SackvilleFrom 1 April 1992, under the patients charter, all health authorities are required to guarantee admission for treatment within two years of a patient being placed on a waiting list. This will be improved to 18 months for hip and knee replacement and cataract operations from 31 March 1993. From 1 April 1992 health authorities should ensure that guaranteed maximum waiting times are publicised.