§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average waiting time in accident and emergency departments by health authority for(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [135848]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 1 November 2000]: Although the information requested is not currently collected centrally, the NHS Plan states that by 2004, no patient will wait more than four hours in accident and emergency departments from the time of arrival to admission, discharge or transfer, and that the average wait will be 75 minutes.