§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in Somerset health authority area were waiting more than(a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months, (d) 12 months, (e) 15 months, (f) 18 months and (g) 24 months for (i) heart operations, (ii) cancer treatment and (iii) hip replacements in each year since 1997; what are the latest available figures for waiting times for such operations; and if he will make a statement. [31306]
§ Ms BlearsThe information requested is given in the table. The latest available information is for the year 2000–01. Current waiting times for these operations will vary according to the hospital and consultant the patient is being treated by and the clinical priority of the patient.
Somerset health authority and local NHS trusts have action plans in place to ensure that the maximum waiting time for operations is reduced to 15 months by 31 March 2002.
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Waiting times for waiting list and booked admissions for selected operations/diagnoses Patients resident in Somerset health authority, and treated in NHS Hospitals in England 1997–98 to 2000–01 0–3 months 3–6 months 6–9 months 9–12 months 12–15 months 15–18 months 18–24 months Over 24 months Not known 2000–01 Coronary Artery Bypass Graft 78 20 19 15 12 42 3 0 17 Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty 8 9 10 0 0 1 1 0 0 Hip replacement 144 94 104 129 111 34 15 1 4 Cancer 2,912 185 21 3 7 1 0 0 204 Notes:
Operation/diagnosis codes used are as follows:
"Operations (OPCS4R codes)"
Coronary artery bypass graft: K40–K46
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: K49–K50
Hip replacement: W37–W39, W46–W48
"Diagnoses (ICD-10 codes)"
Cancer—C00–C97 (malignant neoplasms)
Waiting time statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and waiting times for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment at a given point in time and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the waiting time as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.
Data for 1997–98 are adjusted for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data; 1998–99 to 2000–01 figures are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
Source:
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health