HC Deb 06 July 1993 vol 228 c115W
13. Mr. Skinner

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest figures for national health service waiting lists.

Dr. Mawhinney

Provisional figures for the quarter ending 31 March are available in the Library. These show that the patients charter guarantee is being met and there are no patients waiting longer than two years for treatment in any region. In addition, no patient has to wait longer than 18 months for hip, knee or cataract surgery.

18. Mr. Knapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing waiting times for patients in the South Western region.

Dr. Mawhinney

Provisional figures for March 1993 show that, over the last two years, South Western regional health authority has reduced the number of patients waiting over a year from 14,500 to only 295.