asked the Prime Minister what plans Her Majesty's Government have to increase opportunities for patients to choose the date, venue and doctor for their treatment within the National Health Service.
I have been asked to reply.The Government's aim is to make sure that all patients receive the treatment that they need within a reasonable time. That is why we have launched a waiting list initiative backed up by a special fund of £50 million which we expect to bring about the treatment of 200,000 extra patients from the waiting list over two years.
There are no plans to change the present system where a general practitioner may refer his patients to the consultant he considers most appropriate for their treatment. In doing so a general practitioner can take account of probable waiting time and location. Acceptance of the patient and date of admission is then a matter for the consultant's clinical judgment, taking into account the patient's availability for treatment.