Waiting Lists

HC Deb 28 March 2000 vol 347 c119W

16. Mr. Paterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on acute waiting lists during the past winter. [115163]

Mr. Denham

The National Health Service has done this winter what it should always do—it has prioritised emergencies. There are always more pressures on the NHS from emergency admissions in the winter months. The waiting list figures for December and January reflect the fact that the NHS as planned did give priority to emergency cases.

The waiting list is currently 39,000 below the level inherited. We remain on track to achieve our manifesto commitment to reduce waiting lists by 100,000 from the level inherited.