HC Deb 08 March 1995 vol 256 cc234-5W
Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons additional resources made available in the present and forthcoming financial years for the West Midlands waiting list initiative are not being incorporated into district health authority budgets; and if she will make a statement on the impact of this on the scale of the redundancy programme in South Birmingham health authority.

Mr. Malone

The allocation of resources for the West Midlands waiting times initiative is a matter for West Midlands regional health authority and I refer the hon. Member to Mr. Bryan Baker, chairman of West Midlands RHA, for this information. The redundancy programme in South Birmingham, and any possible impact that the waiting times initiative may have on this, is a matter for South Birmingham health authority and the hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Bryan Stoten, chairman of the authority, for further details.

Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of the West Midlands waiting list initiative in 1996–97.

Mr. Malone

West Midlands are to be congratulated on the excellent progress that they have made in reducing waiting times for in-patient and day case treatment for their residents. I look to local purchasers and providers to build on this success in the future.