HC Deb 02 March 1999 vol 326 c667W
16. Mr. Lansley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total cost, since 2 May 1997, of reducing waiting lists to 1.06 million; when this target is likely to be met; and if he will make a statement. [72392]

Mr. Denham

This year we made an extra £417 million available for the National Health Service to support a range of actions to bring down NHS waiting lists and keep them down. We are making an extra £320 million available next year from the NHS Modernisation Fund, plus an extra £20 million capital specifically to support further sustainable reductions in the number of patients waiting for NHS treatment.

We are committed to reducing NHS waiting lists to 1.06 million within the lifetime of this Parliament, and thereby reducing waiting times. The first step in delivering this target will be a record reduction in waiting lists by April this year to below the 1.16 million we inherited.

21. Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on hospital and consultant waiting lists since 31 March 1997 for the Mid Essex hospital trust area. [72397]

Mr. Denham

I am taking a close interest in the waiting list position at Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust. I was pleased to note that waiting lists have begun to come down over recent months and the Trust is committed to achieving further reductions in 1999–2000.

29. Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what penalties will be levied against West Sussex health authority hospitals which fail to meet their targets for reduction in waiting lists by 31 March. [72405]

Mr. Denham

Any penalties levied against West Sussex Health Authority hospital trusts for failing to deliver their waiting list targets by the end of March 1999 would be matter for the health authority to discuss with individual trusts in the light of their overall performance in 1998–99.

31. Mr. Skinner

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the latest NHS waiting figures. [72407]

Mr. Denham

The latest waiting list figures give the position at the end of January 1999 and show 153,250 fewer patients on waiting lists than at the end of April 1998. During December there was a slight increase in the total as the National Health Service quite rightly focused its attention on dealing with the large number of emergency cases but we remain on track to deliver our commitment to reduce the total to below the 1.16 million we inherited by April 1999.