§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting list times are for(a) knee and (b) hip operations. [5746]
§ Mr. HuttonThe average (median) waiting times for knee and hip operations during 1999–2000 are shown in the table. Data for 2000–01 are not yet available.
Median waiting time (days) Type of operation Hip replacement 201 Knee replacement 253 Source:
HES date 1999–2000
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list health authorities in England in order of the highest number of patients waiting for(a) an out-patient and (b) an in-patient appointment, indicating numbers of patients awaiting treatment, for (i) general surgery, (ii) urology, (iii) trauma and orthopaedics (iv) ear, nose and throat, (v) ophthalmology, (vi) oral surgery, (vii) cardiothoracic surgery, (viii) general medicine, (ix) cardiology, (x) thoracic medicine, (xi) infectious diseases, (xii) medical oncology, (xiii) geriatric medicine, (xiv) gynaecology and (xv) clinical oncology. [5815]
§ Mr. HuttonWe do not collect information on total numbers of patients waiting for out-patient appointments. A table showing numbers of patients waiting more than 13 weeks for their appointments following general practitioner referral has been placed in the Library.
Under the NHS Plan, the national health service will reduce the maximum wait for an out-patient appointment from over six months today to three months by the end of 2005. By the same date the maximum wait for in-patient treatment will be reduced from 18 months today to six months.