HC Deb 22 February 1994 vol 238 cc206-7W
26. Sir Thomas Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a further statement about the progress of the health -service reforms.

Dr. Mawhinney

The separation of the purchasing and provider functions is now virtually complete. Four hundred and nineteen national health service trusts will be operational by 1 April 1994 and over 6,000 general practitioners are now fundholders. Overall these changes have produced dramatic changes in patient activity which is now growing at 5 per cent. per annum. Average waiting times have been reduced from nine months to five. The recent changes announced as part of the functions and manpower review will build on the success of the reforms by streamlining the central management of the NHS to create a simplified, sharper structure.