§ Mrs. BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he will take to reduce waiting lists for elective surgery at the Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust. [8730]
§ Mr. MilburnThe extra £1.2 billion for the National Health Service that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 2 July proves our commitment to the NHS. The extra money will enable us to treat more patients from waiting lists and will help us to end waits for cancer treatment. The legacy we have inherited from the previous Government is record numbers waiting for treatment and longer waiting times. We look to health authorities to maintain downward pressure on waiting times. In Somerset the health authority and hospitals are working to treat all patients within twelve months of a decision to admit.