§ Ms JowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if, in calculating changes in the numbers of patients treated before and after the health reforms, her Department counts individual patients treated or finished consultant episodes.
§ Mr. SackvilleInformation on in-patient activity has been collected on the basis of finished consultant episodes since 1988–89 following the recommendation of the KOrner steering group. This was considered to be the most effective way of measuring workload. There has been no change in the collection of data on activity in out-patients clinics and accident and emergency departments which are based on the number of new attendances and the total number of attendances.