§ 13. Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary about progress in reducing waiting times. [169195]
§ Mr. TouhigI regularly meet the Assembly Health Minister concerning the health service in Wales: waiting times is one of the topics that we frequently discuss.
The most recent Assembly quarterly waiting time statistics illustrates huge improvements in long waits for patients. There has been a 71.9 per cent. fall in the number of patients waiting over 18 months for inpatient treatment and a fall of over 36 per cent. in waiting times of over 18 months for an out-patient appointment.