HC Deb 19 January 2004 vol 416 c995W
Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients were awaiting neurosurgery(a) inpatient admission and (b) outpatient assessment in Northern Ireland on the most recent date for which figures are available. [148845]

Angela Smith

The latest available waiting list figures show the position at 30 September 2003, when:

  1. there were 659 patients awaiting admission to hospital in the neurosurgery specialty;
  2. there were 354 patients awaiting a first outpatient appointment in the neurosurgery specialty.

This information is published in the "Northern Ireland Waiting List Quarterly Information Release" on the first Thursday in March, July, September and December. A copy of this publication is placed in the House of Commons Library or can be obtained from the DHSSPS website, internet address: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/publications/index.html.