§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the maximum waiting times faced by individuals between a referral from a general practitioner and an appointment with a consultant; what guidance he has issued as to maximum acceptable waiting time; and what are his policies to reduce such waiting times. [50005]
85W
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 10 July 1998]: The latest available figures show that, during the quarter ending 31 March 1998, 96 per cent. of patients were seen for their first outpatient appointment within 26 weeks of general practitioner referral.
Guidance issued to the National Health Service with the additional £417 million to tackle waiting lists made clear that reducing inpatient lists should not be achieved at the expense of outpatient waiting times. In addition, The New NHS White Paper guarantees that by the year 2000 everyone with suspected cancer will be able to see a specialist within 2 weeks of their GP deciding they need to be seen urgently and requesting an appointment (by April 1999 for breast cancer).