§ Mr. SimmondsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce waiting lists in Boston and Skegness. [11549]
§ Jacqui SmithAs part of the NHS plan, the national health service is working towards reducing the current maximum in-patient wait of 18 months to 15 months by March 2002, 12 months by March 2003, nine months by March 2004 and finally six months by the end of 2005. The maximum out-patient waiting time will fall from over six months today to six months by March 2002 and three months by 2005.
The health community in Lincolnshire has an excellent record in consistently reducing waiting times across the majority of specialties. It is acknowledged that there are short term pressures around some waiting lists at present. A number of innovative schemes have been introduced to address this. The situation is kept under regular review and the health community is confident that it will be able to maintain its agreed action plan.
§ Mr. CameronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled in Oxfordshire in each of the last five years. [16020]
§ Ms BlearsStatistics on the number of operations cancelled for non-medical reasons in each health authority are collected on a quarterly basis. Copies are available in the Library. The latest figures are for quarter one (April-June) of the 2001–02 financial year.