HL Deb 14 October 1997 vol 582 c150WA
Lord Vivian

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the fully staffed operating theatres in the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital are not being fully used because the local purchasing authority has decided that patients of non-fund-holding general practitioners must wait 18 months for non-urgent surgery.

Baroness Jay of Paddington

We understand that Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare National Health Service Trust does not offer preferential treatment to the patients of fundholding general practitioners. Waiting times have risen for some patients from Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow Health Authority—and some operating theatre sessions cancelled—to ensure that services are available for emergency and urgent cases.