§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what reasons a patient waiting for consultation or treatment in the NHS can be disqualified from being considered covered by the total waiting time guarantee or its component parts; and what steps he has taken to ensure commonality of definition of the reasons for disqualification by Welsh health authorities, GP fundholders and trusts. [6151]
§ Mr. HagueThe operational guidance for total waiting times, issued to NHS Wales in March 1995, describes the circumstances under which patients waiting longer than the limits will not be judged as being in breech of the patient's charter guarantees. Health authorities, GP fundholders and hospitals are expected to work within the framework of the guidance. The Welsh Office will review the process when the relevant monitoring returns are received.
A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library of the House.