§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average number of patients per general practitioner in(a) rural and (b) urban areas; [109749]
(2) what is the average waiting time for an appointment to see a general practitioner in a non-emergency case in (a) rural and (b) urban areas. [109750]
§ Mr. DenhamThe average patient list size for general practitioners at 1 October 1998 was 1,787 for rural areas and 1,890 for urban areas.
Figures for average waiting times for an appointment with a GP are not collected centrally although there is information available from the 1998 Patients' Survey for General Practice. This shows that over 56 per cent. of respondents were given an appointment on the day they wanted, while 30 per cent. waited one day or more days. 13 per cent. of respondents reported that they had not minded what day they were given an appointment. There were no significant differences in waiting times between rural and urban areas.