This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Hospital waiting times 'lowest ever'
31/08/2006
The latest quarterly waiting times figures confirm that the current six-month maximum waiting time guarantee for inpatient and day case treatment, and for outpatient consultations, is being maintained, while numbers waiting over 18 weeks continue to fall.
The improved performance shown in the figures for the period up to June 30 is long term and sustainable, according to Ministers, who point out that waiting times in Scotland are now at their lowest ever and the NHS is on track to deliver the maximum waiting times target of 18 weeks by the end of 2007 as planned.
Speaking as he visited the Endoscopy Unit at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow along with Health Minister Andy Kerr, First Minister Jack McConnell said:
"Today's figures are the best ever and show that the NHS in Scotland is delivering for patients. We have hit our existing targets again and have made great strides towards even tougher targets.
"Our unprecedented investment in the NHS and increased use of the independent sector has already resulted in thousands of patients being treated faster. This Unit is a great example of that investment.
"But of course, none of this progress would be possible without the hard work and dedication of our NHS staff. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them for providing an NHS that we can all be proud of."
Today's figures confirm that numbers waiting over 18 weeks for both inpatient/day case treatment and for outpatient appointments are at an all time low - inpatients/day cases down by nearly 4,900 (55 per cent) and outpatients down by nearly 21,000 (65 per cent) over the year.
Figures from the April 2006 Accident and Emergency waiting times survey are also being published today. This is the first survey covering all A&E departments and community casualty units and shows that almost nine out of 10 patients waited less than four hours before discharge, admission or transfer.
The Executive's treatment standard - which comes into force at the end of 2007 - is that 98 per cent of patients are discharged, transferred or admitted within four hours.
Mr Kerr said:
"Excellent progress has again been made by NHSScotland in reducing waiting and so delivering a better deal for patients.
"The six month waiting times guarantee has again been achieved and maintained, and good progress has been made towards the 18 week target - which is effective from the end of next year.
"This is the first time we have had comprehensive data from the survey of A&E waiting times. One of our key aims is to ensure that the public has full and easily understood information about the healthcare services they use and pay for. So more comprehensive information about Accident and Emergency performance is an important step.
"The data shows that the vast majority of A & E departments are meeting the four hour target - and I expect all to meet this standard by the time it is due to be delivered at the end of 2007. Of course, most patients experience far shorter waits - the average wait is actually just over one hour and a half.
"Investment and reform in the NHS is paying off, but Boards and the Executive can't afford to let up. Patients expect waiting time standards to be met, as well as receiving high quality healthcare, and our job is to make sure that happens."
On Availability Status Codes (ASCs) - which are up on the previous quarter but down over the year - the Minister said:
"We expected the number of patients with ASCs to rise slightly this quarter at the start of the summer season as patients reschedule appointments because of holidays, but the underlying trend is down. The NHS is committed to abolishing ASCs completely by 2007 to make the system more transparent, consistent and fairer to patients.
"It's worth remembering that 9 out of 10 patients have a Code applied because they have asked to delay admission for personal reasons, because they did not attend an arranged appointment, or because they have an underlying medical condition which means they can't undergo treatment."
The Executive's commitment to a maximum 6 month wait for inpatient/day case treatment and for first outpatient appointments came into effect on December 31, 2005. The commitment to a maximum 18 week wait comes into effect on December 31, 2007.
The latest figures for June 30, 2006 also show that NHS Scotland achieved the maximum wait guarantee of 18 weeks for heart treatment (angioplasty / coronary artery bypass graft). Two patients waited longer than the 8 weeks target for heart treatment investigation (angiography). These patients were both from Dumfries and Galloway and have now been treated.
The A&E target - four hours between arrival and admission, transfer or discharge - comes into effect on December 31 2007.
In recent years, waiting times data for patients attending A&E has been collected via a three day annual survey of the principal A&E Departments, covering around 90 per cent of all A&E attendances.
This year's survey was extended to seven days with participation mandatory for all A&E Departments, community casualty units and trolleyed areas of acute receiving and assessment units.
The Endoscopy Unit at the Southern General Hospital has been specifically commissioned to drive down endoscopy waiting times and to help ensure the target of a nine week wait for endoscopy investigation by December 2007 is achieved.