My Department monitors in-patients waiting lists, including those for general surgery, on a regular basis and, as the Deputy will be aware, £20 million was made available last year to reduce waiting times in those specialities where waiting times were considered excessive. As a result of last year's initiative, the number of patients on the in-patient waiting list for general surgery was reduced from 5,913 at 30 June 1993 to 3,342 at 31 December 1993. A further £10 million has been provided this year to build on the success of the 1993 initiatives and 1,920 additional general surgical procedures over and above the normal level of activity will be carried out as a result of this investment, allowing further progress to be made towards reducing waiting times in this area.
In relation to the specific case raised by the Deputy, I understand that her name was placed on the routine waiting list for surgery on 1 February last, and has been given a number of provisional admission dates since that time. Regrettably it has proved necessary to cancel the planned admission on each occasion as all beds were occupied by more urgent cases. I understand that the patient has now been given a further provisional admission date for 9 November next and the hospital will make every effort to ensure that the patient's admission is not cancelled on this occasion.
