§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average waiting times in each English hospital trust for knee replacement operations in each of the last three years. [11811]
§ Mr. HuttonThe average median waiting times in each English hospital trust for knee replacement in each of the last three years 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 have been placed in the Library.
As part of the NHS Plan, the maximum waiting time for in-patient treatment will be cut from 18 months now to six months by the end of 2005. As a first step towards this reduction, the maximum wait for a national health service operation will be cut to 15 months by the end of March 2002.