asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to prevent the time now unnecessarily wasted, with consequent loss of production man-hours and harm to the national economy, by the failure in certain hospitals to arrange staggered hours of appointment for patients attending for consultation.

Hospitals have already been urged to introduce an efficient appointments system in outpatient departments so as to reduce waiting time to the minimum. If my hon. Friend has in mind particular hospitals where the system is not working well, I should be pleased to make inquiries.