§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is(a) the average and (b) the maximum waiting time between a patient's initial referral and the first appointment with a consultant in each health authority in England; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleFigures for out-patient waiting times are not collected centrally, but all health authorities are required under the patients charter to publish information on the local standards they have set for waiting times for first out-patient appointments and on performance against these targets.