HC Deb 30 April 2001 vol 367 c504W
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce inequities in waiting times between health authorities. [158925]

Mr. Denham

The National Health Service plan targets reduce the maximum waiting time to six months for inpatient treatment and three months for outpatient appointments by 2005. The Modernisation Agency and the Department's regional offices are working with the NHS to significantly improve access to care and to reduce variations in waiting times in the areas with the longest waits.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which five health authorities have(a) the lowest and (b) the highest percentage of patients waiting for ordinary inpatient admission waiting more than one year; and what is the difference in unweighted net per capita funding for the two groups. [158924]

Mr. Denham

The information is shown in the tables. The use of unweighted populations takes no account of the relative needs of the population and comparisons should be treated with caution. Per capita figures on a weighted basis are also included.

Inpatient data by health authority (HA) for December 2000—percentage of over 12 month waiters
Health authority Percentage
Lowest percentage
Dorset 0.2
Sunderland 0.5
Doncaster 0.6
Gateshead and South Tyneside 1.1
County Durham and Darlington 1.1
Highest percentage
North Cheshire 11.6
West Surrey 12.3
West Sussex 13.4
Southampton and SW Hampshire 14.2
East Surrey 14.7

Note:

Data relate to ordinary admissions only.

Source:

Monthly waiting times return.

Per capita funding
£
Health authorities with over 12 month waiters Unweighted Weighted
Five HAs with lowest percentage 797 745
Five HAs with highest percentage 703 743

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