§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the elective waiting list total was for the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on(a) 1 May 1997 and (b) the latest date for which data is available; and if he will make a statement. [103305]
§ Mr. DenhamWaiting list information for 1997 is available only on a quarterly and not a monthly basis. Figures are therefore not available for 1 May 1997. At 31 March 1997, there was a total of 4,245 people on the514W in-patient elective waiting list at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, and at 31 October 1999 the number of patients waiting for elective in-patient treatment was 4,262.
We are pleased to be able to commend the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for maintaining in-patient waiting list standards and for achieving their contribution to the countywide in-patient target last year. I am also delighted to learn that the Trust is on track to meet its target again this year.
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress made to modernise the accident and emergency unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital [103306]
§ Ms StuartWe are committed to modernising and improving accident and emergency facilities for the benefit of both patients and staff. The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital National Health Service Trust has received £600,000 from the Government's accident and emergency modernisation fund for the development of an assessment unit, a decontamination facility and improved security.
The new developments are progressing well; plans for the design and development of the assessment unit are currently under discussion, and this facility is due for completion in the new financial year. New equipment has already been ordered, which can be used prior to completion within the existing facilities. Security has already been improved, and this will be extended further on completion of the assessment unit with the installation of additional CCTV cameras. A decontamination unit has also been ordered.