To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the reasons for the rise in the number of people waiting for general surgery in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the "Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin 1990; No. 2" which illustrates a variable performance in the light of developing demand and activity levels. During 1989 generally surgery in-patient and day care throughput increased by 2·9 per cent., out-patient throughput rose by 0·1 per cent., with new out-patient attendances up by 4 per cent. In addition, at 31 March 1990 the number of urgent in-patients waiting fell by 9 per cent. over the previous year, the number of
| Local Authority | 1976 | 1980 | 1985 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
| Clwyd | ||||||
| In existence1 | Nil | Nil | Bersham Hall | Bersham Hall | Bersham Hall | Bersham Hall |
| Approved but not in use2 | Bersham Hall; Bryn Estyn | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | |
| In use3 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | |
| Dyfed | ||||||
| In existence | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Approved but not in use | ||||||
| In use | ||||||
| Gwent | ||||||
| In existence | Nil | Mill House | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Approved but not in use | Crick House | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | |
| In use | Ty Mawr | Ty Mawr | Ty Mawr | Ty Mawr | Ty Mawr | |
| Gwynedd | ||||||
| In existence | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Approved but not in use | ||||||
| In use | ||||||
| Mid Glamorgan | ||||||
| In existence | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Approved but not in use | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | |
| In use | Maes-yr-Eglwys; Silverbrook | Silverbrook | Silverbrook | Silverbrook | Silverbrook | |
| Powys | ||||||
| In existence | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Approved but not in use | ||||||
| In use | ||||||
| South Glamorgan | ||||||
| In existence | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Approved but not in use | Nil | Nil | ||||
| In use | Sully | Sully4 | ||||
| West Glamorgan | ||||||
| In existence | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Approved but not in use | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | |
| In use | Glamorgan Farm School; Llwyncelyn | Hillside5; Llwyncelyn | Llwyncelyn | Llwyncelyn | Llwyncelyn | |
| 1 "In existence" refers to homes containing secure accommodation which is not approved and is not in use. | ||||||
| 2 "Approved but not in use" refers to secure accommodation approved by the Secretary of State for use but not brought into operation. | ||||||
| 3 "In use" relates to approved, operative secure accommodation. | ||||||
| 4 Until 1 October 1985. | ||||||
| 5 Formerly Glamorgan Farm School. | ||||||
non-urgent in-patients rose by 7 per cent., and the number of out-patients rose by 3 per cent. Urgent cases waiting one month or more rose by 13 per cent. over the previous year; non-urgent cases waiting one year or more fell by 6 per cent. and out-patient cases waiting three months or more fell by 2·5 per cent.