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NHS makes good progress on waits | NHS makes good progress on waits |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Ministers have praised the NHS in England for reaching an important milestone in the drive to get hospital waiting times down to 18 weeks. | Ministers have praised the NHS in England for reaching an important milestone in the drive to get hospital waiting times down to 18 weeks. |
The target means hospitals should be able to guarantee that 90% of in-patients and 95% of out-patients can be seen within the time-frame. | The target means hospitals should be able to guarantee that 90% of in-patients and 95% of out-patients can be seen within the time-frame. |
This latest data shows that, on average, the NHS is hitting both parts of the target. | This latest data shows that, on average, the NHS is hitting both parts of the target. |
But the overall figure masks problems in some areas and in some specialities. | But the overall figure masks problems in some areas and in some specialities. |
While the NHS average is in line with the target, just under half of hospitals are meeting it. | While the NHS average is in line with the target, just under half of hospitals are meeting it. |
The figures published are the result of the hard work and dedication of NHS staff Alan Johnson, health secretary | The figures published are the result of the hard work and dedication of NHS staff Alan Johnson, health secretary |
Most of those missing it are just a few percentage points out, but some areas of London are seeing little more than two thirds of patients within 18 weeks. | Most of those missing it are just a few percentage points out, but some areas of London are seeing little more than two thirds of patients within 18 weeks. |
Meanwhile, just eight in 10 orthopaedic patients - those needing hip and knee operations - and a similar number of neurosurgery patients are being seen within 18 weeks. | Meanwhile, just eight in 10 orthopaedic patients - those needing hip and knee operations - and a similar number of neurosurgery patients are being seen within 18 weeks. |
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said the challenges were "not insurmountable" and he expected all areas to achieve the target by the end of the year. | Health Secretary Alan Johnson said the challenges were "not insurmountable" and he expected all areas to achieve the target by the end of the year. |
He added: "The figures published are the result of the hard work and dedication of NHS staff." | He added: "The figures published are the result of the hard work and dedication of NHS staff." |
Progress | Progress |
The progress comes after the government controversially tweaked its target a year ago. | The progress comes after the government controversially tweaked its target a year ago. |
Last November, ministers announced the 10% and 5% leeway from achieving the 18 week target for all, as they said some people were choosing not to be seen so quickly and for others it was not clinically advisable. | Last November, ministers announced the 10% and 5% leeway from achieving the 18 week target for all, as they said some people were choosing not to be seen so quickly and for others it was not clinically advisable. |
However, at the time critics accused the government of changing the goalposts to meet the target. | However, at the time critics accused the government of changing the goalposts to meet the target. |
The 18-week goal is generally perceived to be the toughest of all the NHS targets Labour has introduced. | The 18-week goal is generally perceived to be the toughest of all the NHS targets Labour has introduced. |
When it came to power, waits of over two years were not uncommon and while previous waiting time targets have just measured from the point of diagnosis, the 18-week clock starts ticking with the time of a GP's referral. | When it came to power, waits of over two years were not uncommon and while previous waiting time targets have just measured from the point of diagnosis, the 18-week clock starts ticking with the time of a GP's referral. |
Ministers designed it like this to tackle the issue of "hidden waits" whereby patients found themselves waiting a long-time from GP referral to diagnosis. | Ministers designed it like this to tackle the issue of "hidden waits" whereby patients found themselves waiting a long-time from GP referral to diagnosis. |
Wales and Scotland have their own waiting time targets, but these are not as advanced as the English ones. |
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