HC Deb 30 October 2001 vol 373 cc650-1W
Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in England have been waiting more than(a) six, (b) 12, (c) 18 and (d) 24 months for an (i) out-patient and (ii) in-patient appointment for each reporting period since 1995; and if he will make a statement. [8926]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 25 October 2001]: The information requested is given in the tables.

A proportion of patients who have waited over 18 and 24 months are awaiting tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy procedures. This is because the National Health Service has been advised only to carry out these procedures (when routine) using single-use supply instruments, due to the theoretical risk of contracting vCJD. There are now sufficient supplies of these instruments; therefore, patients awaiting these procedures should not be waiting as long in the coming months.

Two NHS trusts were responsible for the number of patients waiting over 24 months during the quarters ending March and June 2001. Appropriate corrective action is in place to ensure these patients are treated.

We are determined to reduce waiting times through implementing shorter maximum waiting times. By the end of March 2002, the maximum in-patient waiting time will be 15 months and the maximum waiting time for a first out-patient appointment will be six months.

In-patient waiting times data for England, March 1995 to present
Of those on the list, number who have waited:
Quarter Size of in-patient More than 6 months More than 12 months More than 18 months More than 24 months
September 1998 1,213,839 347,757 63,480 0 0
December 1998 1,173,598 315,724 56,094 0 0
March 1999 1,072,860 279,627 47,304 0 0
June 1999 1,094,251 279,118 49,442 1 0
September 1999 1,084,157 280,775 50,801 99 3
December 1999 1,108,006 285,440 52,147 105 48
March 2000 1,037,066 268,275 49,046 7 1
June 2000 1,047,890 273,023 51,381 1 0
September 2000 1,031,824 275,204 51,115 2 0
December 2000 1,034,381 267,127 49,215 10 0
March 2001 1,006,727 245,991 42,158 217 54
March 20011 — — — 84 0
June 2001 1,037,875 267,160 46,689 356 10
June 20011 — — — 205 0
1 Number of T&As

Source:

KHO7 quarterly waiting times return. Department of Health

Out-patient waiting times data for England, March 1995 to present
Of those still waiting at quarter end for a first out-patient appointment following GP referral, number who have waited:
Quarter More than 6 months More than 12 months More than 18 months More than 24 months
March 1995 n/a n/a n/a n/a
June 1995 87,398 n/a n/a n/a
September 1995 72,667 n/a n/a n/a
December 1995 60,894 n/a n/a n/a
March 1996 58,503 n/a n/a n/a
June 1996 52,382 n/a n/a n/a
September 1996 61,936 n/a n/a n/a
December 1996 68,495 n/a n/a n/a
March 1997 70,689 n/a n/a n/a
June 1997 84,983 n/a n/a n/a
September 1997 90,112 n/a n/a n/a
December 1997 106,961 n/a n/a n/a
March 1998 112,250 n/a n/a n/a
June 1998 108,684 n/a n/a n/a
September 1998 126,312 n/a n/a n/a
December 1998 144,404 n/a n/a n/a
March 1999 152,787 n/a n/a n/a
June 1999 145,896 n/a n/a n/a
September 1999 149,247 n/a n/a n/a
December 1999 159,211 n/a n/a n/a
March 2000 132,223 n/a n/a n/a
June 2000 130,335 n/a n/a n/a
September 2000 125,840 n/a n/a n/a
December 2000 113,618 n/a n/a n/a
March 2001 81,847 n/a n/a n/a
June 2001 85,099 n/a n/a n/a

Source:

QM08 quarterly waiting times return. Department of Health