HC Deb 19 May 2004 vol 421 cc1034-5W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on NHS waiting times for heart surgery in Burnley. [167944]

Miss Melanie Johnson

There were eight patients waiting more than nine months for heart surgery in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust area at 30 June 2002. As at 30 March 2004, there were no patients waiting more than six months.

Mr. Hendrick

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of suspected cancer patients in Preston saw an NHS consultant within two weeks in each of the last seven years. [168110]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The information requested is not collected on a constituency basis. The information shown in the table relates to the national health service organisations serving the Preston area.

Waiting times for first consultant out-patient appointment for

suspected cancer following urgent GP referral
Seen within 2 weeks
NHS trust Percentage Number
2000–01 Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust 98.8 320
2000–01 Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 100.0 158
2001–02 Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust 100.0 406
2001–02 Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 100.0 291
2002–03 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 100.0 783
2003–04 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 100.0 990
Note:
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals was established on 1 August 2002 from the acute services of Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust and Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
Source:
DH form QMCW.

Mr. Hendrick

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on NHS waiting times for heart surgery in Preston. [168111]

Miss Melanie Johnson

There were three patients waiting more than nine months for heart surgery in the Preston Primary Care Trust area at 30 June 2002. As at 30 March 2004, there were no patients waiting more than six months.

Dr. Richard Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his target of 17 weeks' wait for a national health service out-patient referral starts from(a) the date of the consultation with the referring general practitioner and (b) the date that the patient is given the appointment date to attend the hospital or clinic. [172843]

Mr. Hutton

The target of 17 weeks wait for a national health service first out-patient appointment with a consultant following a general practitioner referral starts from the date on which the provider received the written referral request from the GP (or the date of the verbal request which was later confirmed), to the date when the first out-patient attendance with a consultant takes place.