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A key objective for the NHSiS in 1998-99 was to reduce the number of inpatient and day cases on the waiting list to below the level of 84,649 as at 31 March 1997 by 31 March 1999.
As at 31 March 1999 there were 70,227 inpatients and day cases on the waiting list for treatment. This represents a reduction of 10.6% (8,299) compared with the position as at 31 December 1998 - over fourteen thousand below the target level. As chart 7 shows the change since last quarter ranges from an increase of 4.8% (18) in Western Isles to reductions of 16.5% (1,367) in Grampian, 16.4% (238) in Borders and 16.2% (1,159) in Tayside.
Chart 7: Percentage difference in the Number of Patients on the Inpatient and Day Case Waiting List: 31 March 1999 versus 31 December 1998
As chart 8 shows just over four fifths (80.4%) of patients were treated within 3 months of being placed on the waiting list in 1998-99. There was some variance by Health Board with the percentage treated within 3 months ranging from 70.9% in Fife to 90.2% in Orkney.
Chart 8: Inpatient and Day Cases: Percentage of Waiting List Cases Treated within 3 Months: 1998-99
Under the terms of the Patient's Charter, people waiting for inpatient and day case treatment are guaranteed treatment within 12 months. There has been a considerable reduction in the number of breaches of the 12 month guarantee in recent years. As at 31 March 1999 three patients with a guarantee were waiting longer than 12 months for treatment. This compares with 394 such cases in December 1997 - see Chart 9.
Chart 9: Inpatient and Day Cases with a Guarantee Waiting Over 12 Months for Treatment
Under the terms of the Patient's Charter a 9 week target was introduced for new outpatients referred by their GP or dentist to receive their first appointment. In the fourth quarter of 1998-99 63.8% of new outpatients referred by their GP or dentist received an appointment within the 9 week target. This compares with 69.1% in the fourth quarter of 1997-98.
Chart 10 shows the percentage of new outpatients seen within 9 weeks, by Health Board. There was a wide range in performance: from 59.2% in Greater Glasgow to 91.8% in Orkney.
Chart 10: Percentage of New Outpatients Waiting Less than 9 Weeks for an Appointment: January to March 1999
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