Hospital Waiting Lists (Hansard, 29 June 1999)

§ 18. Mr. Connarty
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken to reduce hospital waiting lists; and if he will make a statement. [87531]

§ 28. Mr. Browne
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland are waiting for hospital treatment; and if he will make a statement. [87542]

§ Mr. Macdonald
On 31 March 1999, the number of people waiting for in-patient or day-case treatment was 70,227. This is a reduction of 10.6 per cent. on the previous quarter and is the largest quarterly fall in the waiting list for a decade. Hospital waiting lists have been cut by almost 22 per cent. in the past year, and the NHS in Scotland met the Government's target of reducing the waiting list to below 75,000 three years ahead of schedule.
From 1 July, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.