Progress Maintained On Waiting Times

Patients are continuing to benefit from improved NHS waiting times but substantial improvements are still needed on cancer waits, Health Minister Andy Kerr has said. The latest quarterly figures (to end September 2006) for inpatient and day cases, and for outpatient consultations, show that the current six month maximum wait guarantee has again been met with further progress made towards the 18 week target effective from the end of 2007.

Performance on the latest quarterly cancer waiting times (to end June 2006) shows 79.2 per cent of patients were treated within the target time of 62 days of urgent referral to treatment. The Minister said good progress has been made over the past year in working towards meeting the target of 95 per cent of patients being seen within that time, but today’s figures showed it is not good enough and the NHS must re-double its efforts.

Mr Kerr said: “Today’s figures are the best ever and show just how far we have travelled in bringing down waiting times in Scotland. The numbers of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for inpatient and day case treatment is at an all time low – down 65 per cent over the year. Those waiting for an outpatient appointment are benefiting from similar progress with the numbers down 59 per cent over the year.

“Cancer waiting is proving to be a tougher challenge. Quarterly performance has improved slightly, and over the year there has undoubtedly been progress with colorectal cancer performance up 14 per cent and lung cancer up 12 per cent. But at 79.2 per cent overall, we are still falling significantly short of the target to have 95 per cent of patients who are urgently referred treated within 62 days.

“That is why we are taking a range of measures including weekly monitoring to better track patient progress through the system and the establishment of a new Cancer Performance Support Team to help Boards in driving forward improvements. We must do better on cancer and I am determined that we will.”

Also today, information was published for the first time on performance against the nine week waiting times standard effective from end 2007 for eight key diagnostic tests. For the first time, monthly A&E waiting times statistics were also released.

Commenting on these, the Minister said: “The numbers waiting longer than nine weeks for key diagnostic tests is coming down all the time and has been dramatically reduced by 27 per cent over the July to September period. Faster diagnosis leads to faster treatment for patients and I look forward to seeing this momentum maintained.

“Today’s figures on A&E waiting times are also extremely encouraging. A year ahead of the target date, 90 per cent of core A&E departments are meeting the 4 hour target, with one third of departments already above 98 per cent. Again, we are seeing clear evidence of sustainable performance improvement which is delivering a more effective NHS.”

Waiting times information published today by ISD including monthly figures for A&E and diagnostic tests is available at www.isdscotland.org/Acute_Hospital_Care_Home_Page

Cancer waiting times information is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/cancer/waiting-times/cancer2006