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Hospital waiting times
27/05/2008
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon today welcomed the first set of figures on hospital waiting times since the abolition of 'hidden waiting lists'.
Ms Sturgeon said that new ways of collecting and measuring waiting times provide, for the first time ever, a complete and open picture of waiting times in Scotland's hospitals. The key change is the removal of hidden waiting lists.
The statistics also show that the NHS is continuing to reduce waiting times for patients, effectively meeting national maximum waiting times targets, including for first outpatient consultations, hospital inpatient and day case treatment, key diagnosistic tests and attendance at A&E.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"Hidden waiting lists made a mockery of the maximum waiting time guarantee. Their removal is good news for patients who now have a clear understanding of their entitlement.
"We have removed the smoke and mirrors that previously dogged Scotland's waiting list figures by ensuring that there is full transparency.
"Today's statistics, released by ISD Scotland, are the first since hidden waiting lists were abolished. The statistics show a performance by the NHS which is doubly impressive.
"A year ago just under 30,000 patients held an Availability Status Code - now these have been consigned to history. Yet, at the same time, the NHS has continued to reduce waiting times for patients, effectively meeting all our challenging national maximum waiting times targets.
"This is very good news for patients. But we cannot be complacent. We are committed to supporting NHS Boards in further reducing waiting times for patients. That is why we are working towards a 'whole journey' maximum waiting time of 18 weeks from GP referral to treatment, to be delivered by the end of 2011."
New ways of defining and measuring waiting times came into effect on January 1 when availability status codes - the practice of hidden waiting lists - were abolished.
Patients who had an availability status code on December 31, 2007 but who were available for treatment became active waiters on January 1 and should have been admitted for treatment with 18 weeks - by May 5.
Those who were unavailable for treatment remain on the waiting list, flagged as suspended but crucially reviewed at intervals of three months of less. They are entitled to treatment within the maximum waiting time, plus any period of unavailability.
A patient may be unavailable for medical (eg unfit to undergo procedure) or social (eg on holiday) reasons.
The NHS in Scotland is continuing to effectively meet national maximum waiting times targets for first outpatient consultations, hospital inpatient and day case treatment, key diagnostic tests, the diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease and attendance at A&E. Performance on waiting times for key diagnostic tests is the best ever recorded.