§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in introducing national guidance for local targets on maximum waiting times for conditions according to their seriousness. [153484]
§ Mr. DenhamWhen a patient is admitted for treatment it is a decision that must be made by their hospital consultant and must be based on the patient's clinical need and their priority on the waiting list. Under the NHS plan the maximum waiting time for all elective admissions to hospital will be reduced from 18 months today to six months, by the end of 2005. Under the NHS cancer plan, by the end of 2001 there will be a maximum one month wait from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer. This will be extended to all cancers by the end of 2005.