§ 35. Ms DrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to reduce waiting times for patients in South Swindon. [151984]
§ Mr. DenhamSince 1998 we have given substantial additional funding to Wiltshire health authority to reduce waiting lists as detailed in the table:
Waiting list and times related funding allocated to Wiltshire £000 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–021 Waiting lists included in general cash uplift — 2,837 2,837 4,643 Waiting list performance fund 346 327 327 2— Waiting list beacon — 30 — 2— Waiting list addition 3,164 — — 2— Waiting list booked admission programme — 182 302 2— Waiting list cancer out-patient waits — 25 131 2— 3,510 3,401 3,597 4,643 Total 15,151 1Estimated pro rata share of £423 million hypothecated fund 2Not yet known At the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust this has been used to fund a variety of schemes which by the end of January this year had led to a fall of 1,334 (20.2 per cent.) in the number of patients waiting for in-patient and daycare treatment since 1 April 1996.