§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding was given to waiting list helplines in each of the last five years. [14055]
§ Mr. HoramIn 1992–93, the College of Health received £25,600 in support of the development of a national waiting list clearing house which encompassed a telephone helpline. A further £109,750 was allocated to the project in 1993–94.
Waiting times information is now available to the public on a freephone telephone link—0800 66 55 44— through the health information services which were established in 1993. For details of the funding for health information services, which is the responsibility of regional health authorities, I refer the hon. Member to thereply I gave the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe) on 25 January, Official Report, column 377.