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Boards on target to abolish hidden waiting lists
24/10/2007
Latest figures show that NHS Boards in Scotland remain well on target to phase out hidden waiting lists by the end of this year.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon told Parliament that management information available to health boards indicates that the number of patients on the inpatient and day case waiting list with an Availablity Status Code (ASC) had fallen by a more than a third over the summer.
Ms Sturgeon also announced that the new system coming into force on January 1, which will ensure all patients are covered by national waiting time targets, will be reviewed by Audit Scotland to ensure it is being operated consistently, fairly and to the benefit of all patients.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"This Government's approach to NHS waiting times is focussed on clearly and firmly driving waiting down and putting patients first at all times.
"We will abolish hidden waiting lists and introduce important changes in the way waiting times will be measured in the NHS from next January. These new arrangements will be more transparent, consistent and fair, and all patients will be covered by national waiting times targets.
"No longer will we have the situation where thousands of patients are excluded from the target through the use of Availability Status Codes.
"I am pleased to note that NHS Boards are continuing to make excellent progress in reviewing the cases of patients who hold ASCs and treating them where appropriate.
"The latest management information I have received indicates that the number of patients on the inpatient and day case waiting list with an ASC fell to just over 19,000 at the end of August, a reduction of more than 10,000 on the end-March figure the new Government inherited.
"I expect to see a continued steep decline in the number of patients with ASCs in the coming weeks. It is clear that the NHS is on track to ensure that the Codes are phased out by the end of this year."
Ms Sturgeon also re-iterated the Government's plans to replace ASCs with a system which will be transparent and open to scrutiny.
"From next January, hidden waiting lists will be gone for good and national waiting times targets will apply to all patients, meaning faster treatment for thousands of patients.
"I am very pleased that the Auditor General for Scotland shares my view that this is a matter of significant public interest. He has agreed that Audit Scotland will review how the new approach is being applied once the system is up and running.
"This should enable us to see whether the new arrangements are being operated consistently and fairly by NHS Boards, and that they are benefiting patients."