§ Mr. LansleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the numbers of elective admissions from 1998–99 to 2001–02 inclusive given in Figure 7.1 of the Departmental Annual Report 2004 differ from those reported in the 2003 annual report. [171545]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 10 June 2004]: The reports reflect how activity is changing as the national health service modernises. Figures for elective admissions are re-based to account for the latest definitions and improvements in hospital recording practices. This re-basing enables like with like comparisons to be made across the years.
In figure 7.1 of the 2004 departmental annual report, elective admissions figures for earlier years have been re-based to be directly comparable with the 2002–03 activity figures. Similarly, in the 2003 report, figures for earlier years were directly comparable to the 2001–02 activity figures.