To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much National Health Service waiting lists have changed between 1979 and 1989 in (a) the North West regional health authority and (b) the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley district health authority; and if he will make a statement.
The information requested is given in the table.
In-patient waiting list, North Western and Blackburn, Hvndburn and Ribble Valley health authorities, 31 March 1979 and 31 March 19S9
| |||
1979
| 19891
| Per cent. change
| |
| North Western | 77,368 | 67,228 | -13·1 |
| Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley | 5,512 | 3,761 | -31·8 |
1 Less self deferred cases. | |||
Source: 1979 SBH203 return.—1989 KH07, KHO7a returns.
We are pleased to sec that both region and district have considerably fewer patients waiting than in 1979. The North Western region allocated nearly £300,000 to Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley health authority from the waiting list fund over the last three years. The district has also been allocated a new fully funded consultant urologist post from the 100 new consultant posts announced in the White Paper "Working for Patients".