§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of plastic surgery on patients from Ayrshire and Arran is carried out within hospitals in the Ayrshire and Arran health board area; what action is being taken to increase the percentage treated in local hospitals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 10 January 1995]: The percentage of plastic surgery in patient discharges of Ayrshire and Arran residents from hospitals within the local health board area rose from 56.8 per cent. in 1991 to 65.3 per cent in 1993, the latest full year for which figures are available.
The Ayrshire and Arran health board's draft acute services strategy states the boards' commitment to purchase more plastic surgery services locally. A new consultant plastic surgeon post to be made at Canniesburn hospital in Glasgow will further impact on local Ayrshire and Arran services as the post will cover patient consultations in Ayrshire.