Written question asked by Graham Allen (Labour) on Friday, 9 October 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 October 2009. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Monday, 19 October 2009 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Arthritis

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of average waiting times for rheumatoid arthritis patients for follow-up consultations with a rheumatology specialist in (a) Nottingham North constituency and (b) England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Answer: The Department does not collect waiting times data for follow-up consultations at specialty level.Data published by the Department looking on an all speciality basis shows that the ratio of subsequent attendance (follow-up) to first out-patient appointment has remained broadly stable over the last three years at around two (subsequent attendances) to one (first out-patient appointment)."Source:""Department of Health Monthly Activity Return (MAR) and Quarterly Activity Return (QAR)"

Secondary information