§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with trusts and health authorities in relation to the performance of consultants who are listed in the waiting times information bulletin of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority published in November 1995 as having total combined out-patient and in-patient waiting times in excess of 104 weeks. [12532]
§ Mr. HagueThe purpose of the waiting times information bulletin is to help GPs offer informed advice to those patients who need to be referred to hospital. Patients are, of course, entitled to be referred to the consultant of their choice, even where charter targets may not be met, provided that they are aware of this and are offered alternative referrals.
My Department continues to work closely with health authorities and hospitals in Wales to reduce hospital waiting times, and my officials are currently visiting hospitals where progress has been below expectation. The waiting times information bulletin serves as useful background information to this dialogue with the NHS and for the hospital visits in particular.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to issue new guidelines on the private earnings of medical consultants employed by NHS trusts; 687W and what plans he has to make their NHS earnings directly proportionate to the number of sessions worked for the NHS. [12570]
§ Mr. HagueI have no plans to issue new guidelines on the private earnings of medical consultants.
NHS earnings of consultants employed on national terms and conditions of service are already directly proportionate to their NHS work.