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8 Dec 2005 : Column 1579W—continued

Waiting Times

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 October 2005, Official Report, column 2842W, on waiting times, where her Department is piloting data collections to support the 18-week waiting time target; when these data will be published; what data are being collected under each of the pilots; when she expects the collection of data to be extended to all parts of the country; and if she will make a statement. [23953]

Mr. Byrne: Details of the sites and diagnostic tests piloted are shown in the list. Pilot diagnostics data collections have helped refine the list of diagnostic tests to be included in the national data collection for the 18-week target. The national data collection is to be rolled out nationally from January 2006.

Since this has been a pilot exercise, we have no plans to publish the associated data.

A listening exercise on the principles and definitions to underpin the implementation of the 18-week target is under way. This will help inform the development of systems for measuring performance against the target. The exercise is being conducted via the 18-week website (www.18weeks.nhs.uk).

18 weeks pilot sites:


 
8 Dec 2005 : Column 1580W
 

Tests piloted:

X-ray Equipment

Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on (a) repairing existing and (b) buying new NHS X-ray equipment in 2004–05. [33603]

Jane Kennedy: A figure of £110 million, excluding value added tax, is recorded for repairs to existing x-ray equipment for national health service trusts in England in 2004–05. X-ray equipment is taken to refer to x-ray imaging equipment only: fluoroscopy, bone densitometers, general and mobile x-ray, mammography, cardiac, mobile image intensifiers.

X-ray film or posterior anterior chest system, linear accelerators, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging equipment are therefore not included in these figures.

Information on buying new NHS x-ray equipment in 2004–05 is not held centrally.