§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to issue figures relating to the waiting times for routine out-patient waits; longest in-patient waits and combined waits for South Glamorgan health authority as at 31 December 1994, comparable with the information given for all other health authorities in the waiting times information bulletin, February 1995 edition, issued by Welsh Health Common Services Authority.
§ Mr. RedwoodAs reported in the bulletin, hospitals in south Glamorgan have agreed to provide information on all the medical procedures involved for the next edition.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many consultants have been omitted from the schedule published in the Welsh Health Common Services Authority waiting times information bulletin of February for reasons of inability to comply with the current patients charter guarantees on maximum in-patient waiting times.
§ Mr. RedwoodThree consultants were not included in the February edition of the waiting times information bulletin.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for circulation of the operational guidance on the total waiting times guarantee, and what consultations he has had with the community health councils, local authorities and patient representatives 443W concerning the form and circulation of the guidance document.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe operational guidance on total waiting times will be distributed widely within the NHS in Wales, with copies being sent to all general practices, hospitals, health authorities and community health councils.
Comments on the draft were sought from all community health councils in Wales, and community health council representatives attended workshops arranged to discuss practical aspects of the new approach to reducing hospital waiting times.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his current estimate of when the next issue of waiting times information, given 31 March waiting time, will be published.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe next edition of the waiting times information bulletin will be distributed to general practitioners in the first week of May. It will contain information gathered from hospitals in the last week of March 1995.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has given the chairman of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority concerning the inclusion of consultants in the waiting times information bulletin who are on extended leave of absence; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodNo specific guidance has been given on this point.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft operational guidance relating to the total waiting time guarantee to be effective from April; what representations he has had from health authorities, family health service authorities and trusts in relation to the form of the final guidance; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodA copy of the operational guidance on total waiting times will be placed in the Library. It incorporates helpful comments made by health authorities, hospitals, general practitioners and community health councils.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received in relation to the inclusion of consultants in the schedule published in the waiting times information bulletin, who cannot meet current patients charter guarantees on maximum waiting times.
§ Mr. RedwoodOne representation from an NHS general manager has been received, and in the light of this we are considering including details of all consultants in future editions.