HC Deb 05 May 2004 vol 420 c1490W
13. Miss McIntosh

To 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. Touhig

I 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.