Waiting times up as DoH publishes latest figures

The latest figures from the Department of Health show waiting times rose in England. On inpatient waits, the number of patients waiting more than 13 weeks rose by 600 to 198,600 between April and May 2006. However, year on year the number fell by nearly a quarter (23 per cent).

By the end of May 2006, nearly three quarters of patients (74.2 per cent) waited less than 13 weeks for inpatient treatment, with a median waiting time of 7.7 weeks.

Similarly, outpatient waiting times rose between April and May, although the overall trend year on year was downwards.

The number waiting more than 11 weeks rose by 5,100 and the number waiting over eight weeks rose by 18,900 (10 per cent) during May. The percentage of patients waiting under eight weeks increased from 78.2 per cent in May 2005 to 82.2 per cent in May 2006.

Inpatient Waiting times
- The number of patients, for whom English commissioners are responsible, waiting over 26 weeks at the end of May 2006 was 58. Of these 58, 24 were English residents waiting in Welsh hospitals.

- The number of patients, for whom English commissioners are responsible, waiting over 20 weeks at the end of May 2006 was 48,600, down 12,600 from April 2006.

- The number of patients, for whom English commissioners are responsible, waiting over 13 weeks at the end of May 2006 was 198,600, an increase of 600 (0.3%) from April, but a fall of 59,200 (23.0%) from May 2005

- The percentage of patients waiting under 13 weeks was 74.2%, compared to 74.6% in April and 68.3% in May 2005. The median waiting time of those still waiting at the end of May 2006 was 7.7 weeks.

Outpatient Waiting times
- The number of patients, for whom English commissioners are responsible, waiting over 13 weeks for a first outpatient appointment at the end of May 2006 was 199. Of these 199, 115 were English residents waiting in Welsh hospitals.

- The number of patients, for whom English commissioners are responsible, waiting over 11 weeks at the end of May 2006 was 40,500, up 5,100 from April 2006.

- The number of patients, for whom English commissioners are responsible, waiting over 8 weeks at the end of May 2006 was 207,300, an increase of 18,900 (10.0%) from April, but a fall of 90,600 (30.4%) from May 2005.

- The percentage of patients waiting under 8 weeks was 82.2%, compared to 83.6% in April and 78.2% in May 2005. The median waiting time of those still waiting at the end of May 2006 was 3.9 weeks.

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Health Direct noted on Thursday, January 05, 2006 NHS set to miss 18 week waiting times key target that the Labour government’s pledge on it’s proclaimed waiting times target was doomed to failure.

The latest figures for waiting times do nothing to make hitting this target any likelier.

Instead some might debate that the latest round of NHS job cuts- 16,675 at the latest count, may be having an adverse effect already on the waiting lists.