HC Deb 26 October 1993 vol 230 cc615-7W
Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department is taking to monitor the performance of health boards, NHS trusts and individual hospitals in meeting the waiting time targets set for patients, in accordance with the patients charter for Scotland; and what action he proposes to take against any of these bodies failing to achieve the targets set for them.

Mr. Stewart

[holding answer 25 October 1993]: The monitoring of the performance of health boards in relation to their responsibility to secure treatment for residents within such waiting time targets and guarantees as may apply is an ongoing function of the management executive of the NHS in Scotland. It is for individual boards to ensure delivery of such targets and guarantees through their contracting arrangements with NHS trusts and other hospitals. The success of boards in tackling such matters is addressed at the annual accountability review meeting which the management executive holds with every board.

Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the waiting time targets set for Tayside health board, in accordance with the patients charter for Scotland, in each of the(a) general surgery, (b) orthopaedic surgery, (c) ophthalmology, (d) ear, nose and throat, (e) urology and (f) gynaecology specialties.

Mr. Stewart

[holding answer 25 October 1993]: The waiting time targets for in-patient or day case treatment currently applying to residents of Tayside health board are as follows:

  1. (a) General surgery—90 per cent. within six months.
  2. (b) Orthopaedic surgery—90 per cent. within nine months.
  3. (c) Ophthalmology—90 per cent. within six months.
  4. (d) Ear, nose and throat—90 per cent. within nine months.
  5. (e) Urology—90 per cent. within 12 months.
  6. (f) Gynaecology—90 per cent. within three months.

Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guarantees of treatment within a set time has been given by Tayside health board in accordance with the patients charter for Scotland for(a) hip replacement, (b) knee replacement, (c) cataracts and (d) for any other treatments.

Mr. Stewart

[holding answer 25 October 1993]: The following are the current treatment guarantees applying to residents of Tayside health board:

  • Hip replacement—within 12 months.
  • Knee replacement—within 12 months.
  • Cataract removal—within six months.
  • Hysterectomy—within six months.
  • Pelvic floor—within six months.
  • Hernia—within six months.

Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what targets have been set by Tayside health board for informing patients of how long they will have to wait for an appointment at an out-patient clinic.

Mr. Stewart

[holding answer 25 October 1993]: As an added reassurance to patients about the length of time they may expect to have to wait for an out-patient appointment following referral by their GP all health boards introduced out-patient waiting time guarantees from 1 April 1993. The guarantees which apply to residents of Tayside health board are as follows:

  • General surgery—within 12 weeks.
  • Orthopaedic surgery—within 20 weeks.
  • Ear, nose and throat—within 16 weeks.
  • Ophthalmology—within nine weeks.
  • Urology1—within 12 weeks.
  • Gynaecology2—within nine weeks.

1 Guarantee does not apply to referrals for infertility or impotence.

2 Guarantee does not apply to referrals for infertility.

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the longest length of waiting time for national health service patients at any trust hospital and for what operation or treatment.

Mr. Stewart

Information on current waiting times for specific operations or treatments (other than those selected on a national basis to which guarantees apply) is not centrally available.

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct health boards to make accessible fast-track monthly waiting lists, similar to those made available by regional health authorities in England.

Mr. Stewart

No. Officials of the management executive of the national health service in Scotland, with officials of the information and statistics division of the Common Services Agency, are working with health boards and national health service trusts to ensure that the quarterly waiting times information is as up to date as possible.

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the average waiting time for(A) private and (b) NHS (i) day-patient and (ii) in-patient (a) treatment and (B) operations at (1) Vale of Leven district general, (2) Falkirk and District royal infirmary, (3) Southern General, (4) Victoria infirmary, (5) Raigmore hospital, (6) Perth royal infirmary and (7) Stirling royal infirmary;

(2) what is the longest length of waiting time for private patients at any trust hospital; for what operation or treatment; and for how many weeks.

Mr. Stewart

Information on waiting times for patients currently waiting for in-patient or day case treatment in NHS hospitals does not differentiate between NHS and private patients.

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