Written question asked by Iris Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 28 January 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 February 2004. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour) on Monday, 2 February 2004 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many patients are awaiting (a) inpatient admission and (b) initial outpatient assessment for orthopaedic surgery. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients are awaiting (a) in-patient admission and (b) initial out-patient assessment for orthopaedic surgery. [152363] Angela Smith: Waiting list statistics are submitted to the Department at specialty level. The information in this answer relates to people waiting in the trauma and orthopaedics specialty. The latest available waiting list figures show the position at 30 September 2003, when (a) there were 6,253 patients awaiting admission to hospital in the trauma and orthopaedics surgery specialty. (b) there were 19,619 patients awaiting a first out-patient appointment in the trauma and orthopaedics surgery specialty.

Secondary information