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07/05/2004
Report shows 'significant improvement' in NHS
In his annual report on the state of the National Health Service, Sir Nigel Crisp has noted "really significant" improvements.
The report revealed a fall in waiting times, a reduction in premature death rates, and increased staffing levels that had allowed more facilities to be brought into use.
Prefacing the report NHS Chief Executive Sir Nigel Crisp said: "It is clear that something really significant is happening in the NHS. We have a dramatic fall in waiting times coupled with very big changes in how services are delivered in communities and in hospitals. The NHS is using its new funding to good effect, with improvements in quality and productivity.
"These successes have been achieved by the hard work, commitment and creativity of hundreds of thousands of people. This is just the start and there is much more to do before we have the services that we all want; but progress is being made quickly and visibly".
However, the report indicated that there was still a lot more that could be done in terms of spreading good practice, developing local services, and in improving the "patient experience".
Sir Nigel said that the report showed waiting times were falling and that these falls are "sustained and accelerating".
Compared to a year ago, patients are now:
"In the last 12 months, we have seen a reduction of nearly two thirds in people waiting more than 13 weeks for an outpatient appointment and about a 60% reduction in those waiting more than six months for admission to hospital."
The report indicated that the total number of people waiting for hospital admission had fallen this year from 992,000 to 906,000. Compared to 2000 when waiting lists were equivalent to 10.8 weeks of hospital activity, today's report showed that this figure had fallen to 8.5 weeks - an improvement of 22% in NHS performance.
Health Secretary John Reid welcomed the figures as confirmation that "the NHS is improving," but Shadow Health Secretary Tim Yeo claimed that the annual report did not represent a "complete picture".
The report sets out to describe activity and performance in the NHS over the last financial year and since the publication of the NHS Plan in July 2000.
(SP)
The report revealed a fall in waiting times, a reduction in premature death rates, and increased staffing levels that had allowed more facilities to be brought into use.
Prefacing the report NHS Chief Executive Sir Nigel Crisp said: "It is clear that something really significant is happening in the NHS. We have a dramatic fall in waiting times coupled with very big changes in how services are delivered in communities and in hospitals. The NHS is using its new funding to good effect, with improvements in quality and productivity.
"These successes have been achieved by the hard work, commitment and creativity of hundreds of thousands of people. This is just the start and there is much more to do before we have the services that we all want; but progress is being made quickly and visibly".
However, the report indicated that there was still a lot more that could be done in terms of spreading good practice, developing local services, and in improving the "patient experience".
Sir Nigel said that the report showed waiting times were falling and that these falls are "sustained and accelerating".
Compared to a year ago, patients are now:
- being seen more quickly by GPs and primary care staff - 98% can see a primary care practitioner within 24 hours;
- seen and treated faster in A&E: 94% within 4 hours;
- given outpatient appointments within an average of 7.1 weeks and a maximum of 17 weeks, down from 21 weeks a year ago;
- admitted to hospital within an average of 10.2 weeks and a maximum of 9 months, down from 12 months a year ago.
"In the last 12 months, we have seen a reduction of nearly two thirds in people waiting more than 13 weeks for an outpatient appointment and about a 60% reduction in those waiting more than six months for admission to hospital."
The report indicated that the total number of people waiting for hospital admission had fallen this year from 992,000 to 906,000. Compared to 2000 when waiting lists were equivalent to 10.8 weeks of hospital activity, today's report showed that this figure had fallen to 8.5 weeks - an improvement of 22% in NHS performance.
Health Secretary John Reid welcomed the figures as confirmation that "the NHS is improving," but Shadow Health Secretary Tim Yeo claimed that the annual report did not represent a "complete picture".
The report sets out to describe activity and performance in the NHS over the last financial year and since the publication of the NHS Plan in July 2000.
(SP)
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