§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average length of time patients currently remain on hospital waiting lists in each health authority in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [48188]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsThe most recent information is given in the table for the residents of each health authority.
Average waiting time in days for people admitted from waiting lists in 19971 Health authority Bro Taf 88 Dyfed Powys 89 Gwent 101 Morgannwg 77 North Wales 88 1Welsh residents treated in Welsh hospitals as in-patients or day cases—these figures exclude Welsh residents treated in English hospitals The combination of the additional –25 million given to the NHS in Wales to reduce waiting lists, and the recently formed Strategy Group which is looking at ways of prioritising those on waiting lists, together with the hard work being undertaken by health authorities and trusts convince me that both the numbers waiting and the time they spend waiting will both reduce in the near future.