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03/12/2004
Hospital waiting lists show consistent decline
Sir Nigel Crisp, the chief executive of the NHS is set to announce today that hospital lists have fallen by 11% since last year.
The downward trend has continued with an overall drop of 35% since figures peaked six years ago.
Statistics released at the end of September showed a fall of 4,500 from the previous month and since March 1997 overall waiting lists have fallen by a massive 300,000.
However, the Liberal Democrats have challenged the findings, arguing that the government figures are not giving the complete picture. According to an independent survey carried out by the party in England, some patients are waiting more than a year for diagnostic tests. In addition patients were waiting up to six months or more in two out of five NHS Trusts for routine MRI scans and one in 12 trusts had MRI waiting lists of over a year.
In an interview with the BBC Radio Four Today programme, Mr Crisp recognised that there are areas where more needs to be done.
He said: "The NHS a few years ago really was in a pretty poor state. We are investing heavily in it, we are seeing a lot of changes happening, but it is only four years on. We said we have got to tackle the big impacts first. Get people to take statins, deal with thrombolyosis - the clot buster drugs, and get the waiting list for treatment down. We now need to move on and tackle these diagnostic waits. "
(mmcg/sp)
The downward trend has continued with an overall drop of 35% since figures peaked six years ago.
Statistics released at the end of September showed a fall of 4,500 from the previous month and since March 1997 overall waiting lists have fallen by a massive 300,000.
However, the Liberal Democrats have challenged the findings, arguing that the government figures are not giving the complete picture. According to an independent survey carried out by the party in England, some patients are waiting more than a year for diagnostic tests. In addition patients were waiting up to six months or more in two out of five NHS Trusts for routine MRI scans and one in 12 trusts had MRI waiting lists of over a year.
In an interview with the BBC Radio Four Today programme, Mr Crisp recognised that there are areas where more needs to be done.
He said: "The NHS a few years ago really was in a pretty poor state. We are investing heavily in it, we are seeing a lot of changes happening, but it is only four years on. We said we have got to tackle the big impacts first. Get people to take statins, deal with thrombolyosis - the clot buster drugs, and get the waiting list for treatment down. We now need to move on and tackle these diagnostic waits. "
(mmcg/sp)
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12 November 2004
NHS waiting lists fall to 17-year low
The total number of people on NHS waiting lists has fallen to its lowest level in 17 years, according to statistics published today. The department of health figures revealed that those on waiting lists dropped by 4,500 to 856,600 in September this year.
NHS waiting lists fall to 17-year low
The total number of people on NHS waiting lists has fallen to its lowest level in 17 years, according to statistics published today. The department of health figures revealed that those on waiting lists dropped by 4,500 to 856,600 in September this year.
06 July 2005
Patients prefer better care to faster treatment, report claims
Patients would prefer to wait for better hospital treatment, rather than go to a hospital with shorter waiting lists. A study, conducted by RAND Europe, the King’s Fund and City University, found that patients were more likely to choose to be treated at a hospital with a good reputation rather than one that has shorter waiting times.
Patients prefer better care to faster treatment, report claims
Patients would prefer to wait for better hospital treatment, rather than go to a hospital with shorter waiting lists. A study, conducted by RAND Europe, the King’s Fund and City University, found that patients were more likely to choose to be treated at a hospital with a good reputation rather than one that has shorter waiting times.
14 November 2003
NHS waiting lists sink to 11-year low
NHS waiting lists for September are now at their lowest in 11 years, according to statistics released today by the department of health. The total number of patients waiting for inpatient treatment was 973,600 – a fall of 10,600 since last month. This is 74,500 less than September last year and 184,400 less than March 1997.
NHS waiting lists sink to 11-year low
NHS waiting lists for September are now at their lowest in 11 years, according to statistics released today by the department of health. The total number of patients waiting for inpatient treatment was 973,600 – a fall of 10,600 since last month. This is 74,500 less than September last year and 184,400 less than March 1997.
19 April 2005
Lib Dems pledge to cut ‘hidden’ NHS waiting lists
The Liberal Democrats have pledged to cut the NHS’ ‘hidden’ waiting lists of people awaiting diagnosis. Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy promised to provide £350 million to help cut waiting times for diagnosis for around 500,000 people who, he said, are “languishing” on these “hidden” waiting lists.
Lib Dems pledge to cut ‘hidden’ NHS waiting lists
The Liberal Democrats have pledged to cut the NHS’ ‘hidden’ waiting lists of people awaiting diagnosis. Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy promised to provide £350 million to help cut waiting times for diagnosis for around 500,000 people who, he said, are “languishing” on these “hidden” waiting lists.
21 April 2004
Private health firms to help tackle NHS waiting lists
Two private health firms have been given the go-ahead to operate on NHS patients, in a move which the government believes will help reduce waiting lists. Nuffield Hospitals and Capio Healthcare UK have been awarded contracts to perform almost 25,000 hip, knee and other operations for the NHS in this financial year.
Private health firms to help tackle NHS waiting lists
Two private health firms have been given the go-ahead to operate on NHS patients, in a move which the government believes will help reduce waiting lists. Nuffield Hospitals and Capio Healthcare UK have been awarded contracts to perform almost 25,000 hip, knee and other operations for the NHS in this financial year.
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