House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 27 Mar 2003 (pt 26)

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Waiting Times

Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients waited over four hours in accident and emergency departments in each Suffolk hospital in each of the last four years. [104821]

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Mr. Lammy: Information on the total time patients spend in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge has been collected by the Department of Health since July2002. This

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information is now published quarterly. Figures for West Suffolk and Ipswich Hospitals are shown in the tables.

Total time spent in major Accident and Emergency Departments, NHS Trusts in England, 2002–03 October to December (Q3)

Year Quarter STHA OrgID Name Total attendances at major A and E Percentage of patients who spent less than4 hrs in A and E

2002–03 3 England 2,882,500 78

2002–03 3 Q01 RGQ Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 13,357 80

2002–03 3 Q01 RGR West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 8,945 81

Year	Quarter	STHA	OrgID	Name	Total attendances at major A and E	Percentage of patients who spent less than4 hrs in A and E


2002–03	3			England	2,882,500	78
2002–03	3	Q01	RGQ	Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust	13,357	80
2002–03	3	Q01	RGR	West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust	8,945	81

Source:Department of Health dataset QMAE—published 12 March 2003

Total time spent in major Accident and Emergency departments, NHS Trusts in England, 2002–03 July to September (02)

Year Quarter Dataset STHA OrgID Name Total attendances at major Accident and Emergency Percentage of patients who spent less than 4 hrs in Accident and Emergency

2002–03 2 QMAE England 3,095,650 77

2002–03 2 QMAE Q01 RGQ Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 14,083 81

2002–03 2 QMAE Q01 RGR West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 10,246 83

Year	Quarter	Dataset	STHA	OrgID	Name	Total attendances at major Accident and Emergency	Percentage of patients who spent less than 4 hrs in Accident and Emergency


2002–03	2	QMAE			England	3,095,650	77
2002–03	2	QMAE	Q01	RGQ	Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust	14,083	81
2002–03	2	QMAE	Q01	RGR	West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust	10,246	83

Source:Department of Health dataset QMAE

Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for an out-patient appointment is in (a) Suffolk West, (b) Suffolk Coastal, (c) Waveney, (d) Ipswich and (e) Central Suffolk primary care trusts. [104824]

Mr. Lammy: Average waiting times for out-patient attendance by primary care trust are not held centrally.

Star Rating System

Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection should be able to alter the targets on which the star rating system is based. [102208]

Mr. Hutton: As the independent regulator of national health service performance, the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) are responsible for publication of NHS performance ratings. Ministers will continue to select key targets and the priority areas to be covered. CHI are responsible for leading the work to develop new indicators for use in the star rating system.

The Government's intention is that the new Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection which will be established next year subject to parliamentary approval, will continue in this role.