§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the longest time is that any individual has been waiting for neurosurgical(a) admission and (b) initial outpatient assessment in Northern Ireland. [104733]
§ Mr. BrowneInformation from the Royal Group of Hospitals indicates that at the end of January 2003 the longest time an individual has been waiting for neurosurgical admission is 3,308 days. That individual has been in regular contact with the consultant and has been receiving other treatment during that time.
At the end of January 2003 the longest time an individual has been waiting for a first neurosurgical outpatient appointment is 749 days. That individual has cancelled their appointments on two occasions and has failed to attend on two other occasions. The first outpatient appointment was offered to the patient 183 days after the GP's referral.