§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of trends in hospital waiting lists over the next six months; and if he will make a statement.[13233]
§ Mr. MilburnOur predecessors left the National Health Service with rising waiting times and a record number of patients waiting to be treated. It will take time to turn around the situation we inherited. The £269 million redirected to the NHS in England for 1997–98 will help health authorities and trusts to begin to restrain the growth in waiting lists and times as will the £1 billion increase for next year announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in July.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken on the relationship between NHS funding and hospital waiting lists; if he will publish such research; and if he will make a statement. [13235]
§ Mr. MilburnWaiting lists are influenced by a number of factors, of which funding is only one. New treatments are becoming available all the time and new techniques are being introduced which enable people to undergo surgery who previously could not have been treated. We are working with health authorities and trusts to ensure that the best possible use is made of the resources available to them and that more of each pound spent on the National Health Service goes on direct patient care. The £269 million we have re-directed to the NHS in England for 1997–98 and the £1 billion increase for next year announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in July are significant steps towards fulfilling our commitment to shorten waiting lists.