§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the Mid-Staffordshire health authority who have been referred by their general practitioner to a hospital consultant are currently not being put on an active waiting list and not being given any indication of when an appointment will be available.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThis information is not available centrally. Patients who are referred to a hospital consultant by a general medical practitioner should either be seen immediately or put on an out-patient waiting list depending on their clinical priority. No one should have to wait to be put on an out-patient waiting list after he or she has been referred by his or her GP.