To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many planned operating lists at (a) the Alexandra hospital, Redditch and (b) the Worcestershire Royal infirmary were cancelled due to staff shortages between 23 December 2002 and 3 January 2003. [93252]

No planned lists were cancelled at Worcestershire Royal hospital, and only two operations from the 23 planned were cancelled during this period at the Alexandra hospital. These were cancelled as a result of an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting resulting in a loss of bed capacity, not due to staff shortages.