§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients waited up to(a) four weeks, (b) 13 weeks and (c) 26 weeks for their first outpatient appointment for cardiology following GP referral; and how many patients were waiting for over 13 weeks at quarter end in (i) England and (ii) each NHS region in each quarter since Q1 1997. [121747]
§ Mr. HuttonInformation on waiting times for first consultant outpatient appointment for cardiology following a general practitioner written referral for each quarter since Q1, 1997 has been placed in the Library. Over this period the number of people waiting over960W 26 weeks for their first outpatient appointment in cardiology fell from 571 at end June 1997 to none at end March 2003.