§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines or advice her Department has issued regarding waiting times for beds in accident and emergency departments.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe chief executive of the National Health Service Management Executive has written to all health authorities today to ensure they agree explicit procedures with their hospital providers so that unacceptable delays do not occur. A copy of that letter is being placed in the Library.
§ Ms Lynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average waiting time for a patient waiting to be admitted from accident and emergency departments in each regional health authority in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. SackvilleThis information is not available centrally.