§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the new services that have been provided by the increase in the hospital and community services budget in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. SackvilleGovernment spending on hospital and community health services has risen by 13.8 per cent. in real terms since 1990–91. Over this period there have been significant improvements in the level and quality of services provided to patients. General and acute activity is forecast to be 16 per cent. higher this year than in 1990–91. Since December 1992, no patient in the regions has been waiting longer than two years for in-patient or day case treatment, compared with 51,053 at March 1991. The patients charter has raised the standard of services for patients. The national health service has at the same time taken forward the "Health of the Nation" strategy for preventing premature death and avoidable ill health. With local authorities, health authorities and trusts have successfully introduced our community care reforms, which are designed to provide more flexible and local services to people in the community. We shall continue to build on this progress and improve services still further.