Waiting Lists

HC Deb 04 February 1999 vol 324 c749W

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on waiting lists in Wales. [69542]

Mr. Jon Owen Jones

I am pleased to announce that, as a result of the £20 million invested in the NHS by the Government and the hard work of the NHS staff, the inpatient waiting list fell over the three months to November 1998 to stand at 71,264—the lowest figure since February 1998. The numbers waiting over 12 months and 18 months fell by 329 and 323 respectively in November.

Outpatient lists have increased by 11 in November while the number waiting over 6 months for an appointment rose by 232, an increase of 1.3 per cent.

In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.