HC Deb 25 October 1995 vol 264 cc676-7W
Ms Glenda Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of patients presenting themselves to accident and emergency departments within(a) the London area and (b) England in 1994 were seen by a doctor more than four hours after arriving; [38625]

(2) what information his Department collects regarding waiting times for patients to be seen by a doctor after arriving in accident and emergency departments; [38629]

(3) what percentage of patients presenting themselves to accident and emergency departments within (a) the London area and (b) England in 1994 were seen by a doctor within two hours after arriving. [38624]

Mr. Sackville

This information is not available centrally. All hospitals should have a locally set standard on the time patients should wait before receiving treatment in an accident and emergency department once their initial need for treatment has been assessed and will collect information on this standard.

Ms Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of patients admitted to hospital via an accident and emergency department waited more than four hours between the decision being made by a doctor to admit them and being admitted to a ward within(a) the London area and (b) England in 1994; [38627]

(2) what percentage of patients admitted to hospital via an accident and emergency department waited less than two hours between the decision being made by a doctor to admit them and being admitted to a ward within (a) the London area and (b) England in 1994. [38626]

Mr. Sackville

This information is not available centrally at present. Since April 1995, there has been a patients charter standard that a patient admitted to hospital via an accident and emergency department can expect to be given a bed as soon as possible, and certainly within four hours. From April 1996, this standard will be improved to two hours. Information relating to this standard will become available in due course.

Ms Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had regarding waiting times for patients to be seen by a doctor after arriving in accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement. [38628]

Mr. Sackville

My right hon. Friend has frequent discussions with interested parties on many aspects of patient care including the organisation of accident and emergency departments.

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