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New targets for healthcare
14/11/2008
Waiting time targets for drug treatment and access to child and adolescent mental health services are to be introduced for the first time in Scotland.
The latest NHS Scotland performance management (HEAT) targets, published today, include a commitment to develop these targets over the next year with health boards and other delivery partners.
The new targets include:
- Maximum wait from decision to treat to first treatment for all cancer patients of 31 days
- Inequalities targeted cardiovascular health checks
- Reducing energy consumption
- Faster access to treatment for drug misusers
- Faster access to child and adolescent mental health services
- Reducing the rate of C.diff infections in hospitals by at least 30 per cent by 2011
- 12 week maximum waits for outpatient appointments and inpatient / day case treatment
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"HEAT targets are a valuable way of setting priorities for the NHS in Scotland and ensuring patients always get the best possible level of care.
"We are always looking for ways to improve healthcare in Scotland and cutting waiting times is one of our key priorities.
"That's why we are now ensuring that all patients benefit from the cancer waiting times guarantee - regardless of how they are referred.
"It's also why - for the first time ever - we will introduce waiting time targets to give faster access to drug treatment and child and adolescent mental health services.
"This is a major step forward for both these specialities where waiting times can be both variable and lengthy. Over the next year, we will work with health boards and other agencies to improve the statistics and information we hold. The targets will then come into force in 2010."
Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing said:
"The Government is determined to bring down the longest waits drugs users have to access treatment. We know that treatment works - between a quarter and a third of drug users entering treatment reach long-term sustained abstinence.
"In my many meetings across the country since I published the national drugs strategy and it was endorsed by Parliament, I've heard from service providers and users about the excellent work being done across the country.
"For many drug users access to treatment is an essential part of their road to recovery. Where drug users are motivated and wish to seek recovery, we must be on hand to help them do that as quickly as possible."
HEAT targets are a core set of Ministerial objectives, targets and measures for the NHS. The targets are set each year. Progress is measured throughout the year and boards are held to account during their annual review with the Cabinet Secretary.
There are 29 HEAT targets for 2009-10. These relatively few (but very important) targets concentrate NHS Boards on delivering better and more appropriate care for patients. They are designed to stretch NHS Boards in improving performance.
HEAT targets are aligned with the Government's National Performance Framework and support the delivery of Single Outcome Agreements.