§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the recent flu outbreak on(a) waiting lists, (b) elective operations and (c) progress towards Government targets for waiting lists. [111149]
§ Mr. DenhamDemand for National Health Service services this winter has been very high. The NHS has planned well for these critical months since the beginning of last year. A seasonal rise in waiting lists is expected, reflecting the planned priority the NHS has given to winter emergency admissions. This is anticipated in our plans to achieve our manifesto waiting list target. NHS trusts will continue to work to ensure the target is achieved.