This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Deferred waiting lists to be scrapped
27/08/2002
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm today announced his
intention to scrap deferred waiting lists.
The move is in line with recommendations made earlier
this year by Audit Scotland in a report commissioned by the
Executive.
Patients can go on deferred lists for a number of
reasons - because they are not ready for surgery for
clinical reasons, they change their minds about treatment,
or simply do not turn up for appointments.
At a briefing for Scottish political correspondents, Mr
Chisholm said:
"I have decided to take action on the question of
waiting lists, and have concluded that there will be a
single list for everybody waiting for inpatient and day
case treatment. That means an end to the deferred waiting
lists. and I would like this change to come into force as
soon as possible."
An action plan will shortly go out to trusts and boards
based on the Audit Scotland recommendations. The NHS
Information and Statistics Division has been asked to
produce a report by the end of September on the
implications for changing computer systems and
administrative arrangements and provide a timetable for
implementation.
The move is part of the Executive's drive for more
transparency. If that means problems are more obvious, we
are better to face up to them because patients are the ones
who will benefit from this."