§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the length of time it takes to get(a) an appointment and (b) treatment in the orthopaedic departments in Leeds Health Trust [81494]
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§ Jacqui SmithThe Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust meets all NHS Plan targets with regard to referrals for out-patient appointments in orthopaedics. In September 2001, there were a total of 1,640 people who had waited longer than 21 weeks for an out-patient appointment in orthopaedics. In September 2002, there was nobody who had waited longer than 21 weeks. That represents a significant improvement.
The trust also meets the NHS plan target to operate on all orthopaedic patients within a maximum of 12 months.