HC Deb 26 April 1993 vol 223 cc273-4W
Mrs. Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many small orthopaedic specialised hospital units have been closed in the past two years.

Mr. Sackville

This information is not available centrally.

Mrs. Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned on the effect of the closure of small hospital units that specialise in orthopaedics on waiting times for hip or knee replacements.

Mr. Sackville

None. The patients charter guarantees that all patients waiting for hip or knee replacement operations will be treated within a maximum of 18 months. Latest waiting time figures show that the number of orthopaedic patients waiting more than a year fell by over 45 per cent. in the year to September 1992.

Forward to