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02/12/2010
Doctors Voice Frustration Over Waiting Times
Following on from the Minister’s announcements today on hospital waiting times, British Medical Association (BMA NI) Chairman Dr Paul Darragh responded: “Doctors are working harder than ever to make sure patients are seen promptly according to clinical need.
“However they are being frustrated by a culture whereby non-clinical managers are striving to reach first-time referral targets which inevitably skews resources to the detriment of other patients."
He added: “For example, patients who need a follow-up or review appointment often find their appointments unacceptably delayed. There is no official “target” for these tens of thousands of patients; however delays in treatment will almost inevitably lead to a worsening of their conditions.”
This is a view shared by GPs. Antrim GP Allen McCullough, who has repeatedly voiced his concerns about the delay in review appointments added: “Patients who need treatment are not being seen quickly enough, adding to the strain of being ill. Urgent cancer investigations are now months behind, making a mockery of the whole waiting list target. Does the Minister know how many “red flag” cancer patients are waiting in the system?
“It is hard to be reassuring when you have a cancer patient who cannot get a follow-up appointment.”
(BMcN/GK)
“However they are being frustrated by a culture whereby non-clinical managers are striving to reach first-time referral targets which inevitably skews resources to the detriment of other patients."
He added: “For example, patients who need a follow-up or review appointment often find their appointments unacceptably delayed. There is no official “target” for these tens of thousands of patients; however delays in treatment will almost inevitably lead to a worsening of their conditions.”
This is a view shared by GPs. Antrim GP Allen McCullough, who has repeatedly voiced his concerns about the delay in review appointments added: “Patients who need treatment are not being seen quickly enough, adding to the strain of being ill. Urgent cancer investigations are now months behind, making a mockery of the whole waiting list target. Does the Minister know how many “red flag” cancer patients are waiting in the system?
“It is hard to be reassuring when you have a cancer patient who cannot get a follow-up appointment.”
(BMcN/GK)
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Scottish patients may soon have a legal guarantee that they will wait no longer than 12 weeks for surgery. The Scottish Government's Patient Rights Bill proposes a strict limit on how long they have to wait from their surgical referral to receiving their operation.
04 July 2003
NHS waiting list figures slashed
The latest inpatient figures for May 2003 were released by the Department of Health today. The figures show that: There are 159 patients waiting over 12 months for inpatient treatment, which is over 21,700 less than at the end of March last year.
NHS waiting list figures slashed
The latest inpatient figures for May 2003 were released by the Department of Health today. The figures show that: There are 159 patients waiting over 12 months for inpatient treatment, which is over 21,700 less than at the end of March last year.
08 August 2011
Cancer Survivors 'Should Exercise', Charity Claims
More than a million cancer survivors could be putting themselves at risk of long-term health problems because they are not physically active enough, a report by Macmillan Cancer Support has claimed. The charity's report, Move More, said that of the two million cancer survivors in the UK, around 1.
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Lansley Criticised Over Minimum Wait Ban
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has come under criticism on Monday after banning Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) from enforcing minimum waiting times on referrals. Mr Lanley claimed the move was in the interests of "patient choice", while he also announced caps on operations that "do not take account of the healthcare needs of individual patients".
Lansley Criticised Over Minimum Wait Ban
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Long Emergency Waiting Times Linked To Increased Risk
Long emergency department waiting times are associated with an increased risk of hospital admission or death within seven days among non-admitted patients, finds a study published on bmj.com.
Long Emergency Waiting Times Linked To Increased Risk
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