Hospital waiting times lowest ever
26th March 2009
The NHS now has the shortest waits since its records began.
New data shows that across England the NHS has met its target to treat patients within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral by their GP – an achievement which was unimaginable 12 years ago.
In March 1998, nearly 22,000 people in the South Central Strategic Health Authority area had to wait over six months for in-patient treatment. Today, nobody has to wait longer than 18 weeks.
Nationally the NHS met its commitment six months ago to ensure that 90% of patients who require admission to hospital and 95% of patients not needing admission, start treatment within 18 weeks of referral from their GP. Today’s figures confirm that every part of the country is now meeting this standard.
Alan Whitehead, the Labour MP for Southampton Test, said
"This is a real achievement by NHS clinicians and staff who should be proud of the difference their hard work has made to the experience of every NHS patient.
"Achieving the shortest waits since NHS records began has made a huge difference to patients’ experiences of the NHS. In the 1990s it was not uncommon for people to wait 18 months or more for their operation – with some people dying on the waiting list.”
John Denham, the Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, added:
“The NHS is one of our country's greatest achievements and I will always value and stand up for it. I'm proud that over Labour’s years in government, we have made sure the NHS has the staff it needs and have backed them to deliver improvements in standards and driving down waits. Today's news is further evidence that this investment has worked.
Time spent waiting is important to patients which is why the Labour Government made it a priority to reduce waiting times. This has made a significant difference to the treatment experience of millions of patients. For example:
- Over 250,000 patients have a cataract removed every year. The average referral to treatment time for these patients has reduced by half, from 20 weeks in March 2007 to 10 weeks in January 2009
- Hardness of hearing and deafness affect the lives of large numbers of people. The NHS treats over 400,000 patients referred directly to audiology services every year where the average wait from referral to treatment is now 5.3 weeks.
- NHS waiting times are the lowest they have ever been since NHS records began, 92.9% of admitted patients and 97.3% of non-admitted patients were treated within 18 weeks in January.
- The median wait from referral to inpatient treatment was 8.6 weeks and from referral to outpatient treatment was 4.6 weeks.
It’s not just patients who are feeling the benefits of 18 weeks, clinicians also value the difference it makes to their patients and the quality of care they provide.
Local statistics
http://www.info.doh.gov.uk/nhsfactsheets.nsf
Figures relate to South Central Strategic Health Authority
Extra doctors and nurses
Staff type |
Change 1997-2007 estimate |
Extra doctors |
2520 |
Extra nurses |
4248 |
Waiting list reductions
Number of people waiting for inpatient treatment (including day cases) |
March 1998 |
January 2009 |
Change |
Waiting lists- total |
81,508 |
40,708 |
-40,800 |
+ 13 weeks |
43,111 |
2,969 |
-40,142 |
+ 26 weeks |
21,705 |
0 |
-21,705 |
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