§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals are awaiting speech therapy assessment; and how many of those have waited more than six months. [150736]
§ Angela SmithInformation on the number of individuals awaiting speech therapy assessment is not collected centrally. However, information is collected centrally on completed waiting times for a first outpatient appointment of an episode of care with a community speech and language therapist. In the quarter ending 30 September 2003 (the latest date for which such information is available), 2,453 persons attended their first outpatient appointment. Of these, 218 (8.9 per cent.) had waited for six months or more.