§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the longest period is that an individual has been waiting for(a) in-patient admission and (b) initial out-patient assessment in orthopaedic surgery. [152366]
§ Angela SmithInformation from health trusts in Northern Ireland indicates that, at the end of December 2003, the longest time an individual has been waiting for in-patient admission to the trauma and orthopaedics specialty is 2,808 days, and the longest time for an initial out-patient appointment is 3,485 days.
It should be noted, however, that over 80 per cent. of in-patients for trauma and orthopaedics and 90 per cent. of out-patients are seen in less than 12 months.