HC Deb 16 June 1997 vol 296 cc23-4W
Mr. Pearson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how hospitals in the Dudley borough will be affected by the Government's commitment to cut NHS waiting lists by an extra 100,000 patients. [3648]

Mr. Milburn

Our manifesto commitment is to treat an extra 100,000 patients through reducing bureaucracy. Linked to this is our commitment to end waiting times for cancer surgery, especially breast cancer. We have already announced an initiative to improve breast cancer services (22 May). We will be discussing our future plans with the National Health Service before making any final decisions about the exact scope of our targets and how quickly we will expect them to be achieved.