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PM outlining '24/7 surgery' plans PM pledges 'eight-week op waits'
(about 1 hour later)
"Round-the-clock" surgery could be introduced in England to help cut NHS waiting times to a maximum of 18 weeks, Tony Blair is to say. Patients are set to wait an average of eight weeks from GP referral to treatment in a push to bring down waiting times, Tony Blair has said.
He will suggest the idea of keeping operating theatres open "out of hours" during a visit to a London hospital. It is part of a drive to ensure no patient waits longer than 18 weeks for their operation by the end of 2008.
The government wants the 18-week limit between GP referral and treatment to be met by the end of 2008 - 13 trusts hope to meet it a year early. Thirteen trusts are seeking to get the majority of patients treated within this time by the end of this year.
The Tories said the target would distort priorities in the NHS. But critics said targets distorted clinical priorities and patients wanted personalised care.
We're not going to get away without doing more work Matthew Kershaw, East Kent District HospitalsWe're not going to get away without doing more work Matthew Kershaw, East Kent District Hospitals
And the British Medical Association said it was wrong to simply focus on waiting times rather than the total care a patient receives. The Prime Minister said: "The average wait is going to be seven to eight weeks, which effectively means an end to waiting as we know it.
"It will completely alter what's been the biggest problem in the NHS."
He said achieving that target would require a great deal of "change and innovation" in the NHS.
Some trusts are known to be considering extending operating times, with theatres set to be open in the evenings an at weekends.
And Mr Blair said he wanted to see a "framework" in place to allow the NHS to meet the 18-week target before he leaves office.
However, critics point out that some trusts are currently having to delay operations until the next financial year begins in April because they cannot afford to carry them out earlier.
The push comes as the Times newspaper reveals a poll of 3,000 doctors found more than half believe there has been no improvement in the NHS since 2002 when the government started to improve funding.The push comes as the Times newspaper reveals a poll of 3,000 doctors found more than half believe there has been no improvement in the NHS since 2002 when the government started to improve funding.
Almost three quarters felt the money had not been well spent. And almost three quarters felt the money had not been well spent.
'National campaign''National campaign'
Next month, a nationwide campaign will aim "to focus the activities of all NHS staff" on cutting waiting times.Next month, a nationwide campaign will aim "to focus the activities of all NHS staff" on cutting waiting times.
Hospital bosses will also be encouraged to send more patients abroad and make greater use of the private sector.Hospital bosses will also be encouraged to send more patients abroad and make greater use of the private sector.
Mr Blair hopes that, with an extra push, the average wait from referral by GP to treatment could be cut to seven or eight weeks.
The reality is that in many parts of the country PCTs deep in deficit are slowing down patient referrals to hospital Liberal Democrat Norman LambThe reality is that in many parts of the country PCTs deep in deficit are slowing down patient referrals to hospital Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb
But he will also urge patients to play their part by making sure they keep their appointments. But patients will also be urged to play their part by making sure they keep their appointments.
The government's target says no patient should wait longer than 18 weeks for their operation by the end of 2008 - although there are likely to be exceptions for clinical reasons or if patients opt to wait longer.The government's target says no patient should wait longer than 18 weeks for their operation by the end of 2008 - although there are likely to be exceptions for clinical reasons or if patients opt to wait longer.
The 13 trusts who are seeking "early achiever" status have been set a target that 90% of patients needing hospital admission and 95% of those who can be cared for in other ways will be treated within 18 weeks by the end of 2007.The 13 trusts who are seeking "early achiever" status have been set a target that 90% of patients needing hospital admission and 95% of those who can be cared for in other ways will be treated within 18 weeks by the end of 2007.
East Kent is one of the areas which has set itself the "early achiever" target. In East Kent, 80% of those patients who do not need to be admitted for operations are already seen within that time.
Some areas are well on track - 80% of those patients who do not need to be admitted for operations are already seen within that time.
But in orthopaedics, only just over 10% of patients go from GP referral to operation within 18 weeks.But in orthopaedics, only just over 10% of patients go from GP referral to operation within 18 weeks.
Matthew Kershaw, chief operating officer at East Kent District Hospitals, says s said: "We're not going to get away without doing more work. We're looking at whether we do additional theatre sessions during the day, in the evening and at weekends." Matthew Kershaw, chief operating officer at East Kent District Hospitals, said: "We're not going to get away without doing more work. We're looking at whether we do additional theatre sessions during the day, in the evening and at weekends."
"But we will also have to look at how patients are put on the list, whether all those who are on the list should be there and if they can be treated another way - such as with physiotherapy or by a rheumatologist."
Health minister Andy Burnham told BBC Five Live: "The necessary improvements will be achieved by NHS staff, clinicians and managers working together locally to understand how they can reduce unnecessary delays, rather than being told what to do and how to do it from Whitehall."
He said offering staff the option of working longer days was a "fantastic vision" that would end hospital waiting "as we have known it" by 2008.
'Efficient care''Efficient care'
But Dr Jonathan Fielden, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association's consultants' committee, said more was needed than simply looking at longer opening times for operating theatres.But Dr Jonathan Fielden, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association's consultants' committee, said more was needed than simply looking at longer opening times for operating theatres.
"This focuses just on the area of surgery. Patients don't want to be treated as production line items - they want personal care." "Patients don't want to be treated as production line items - they want personal care."
He said only concerted efforts by GPs and hospital staff working together would improve the patient's "pathway" through their NHS care.He said only concerted efforts by GPs and hospital staff working together would improve the patient's "pathway" through their NHS care.
Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb said in some areas it was primary care trusts (PCTs) not hospitals that needed attention. Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb said: "It makes sense to maximise the use of theatre space to treat patients as quickly as possible.
"It makes sense to maximise the use of theatre space to treat patients as quickly as possible," he said.
"But the reality is that in many parts of the country PCTs deep in deficit are slowing down patient referrals to hospital, extending waiting times rather than reducing them.""But the reality is that in many parts of the country PCTs deep in deficit are slowing down patient referrals to hospital, extending waiting times rather than reducing them."
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that, given the amount of investment in the NHS, waiting lists should already have fallen further. Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that, given the amount of investment in the NHS, waiting lists should already have fallen further."
He added: "The issue really is one of capacity and choice because if you have patients with their GPs able to exercise choice, they're able to look at issues like waiting times, they're also able to look at things like access arrangements and infection rates and they then will be able to create the kind of pressures to deliver improving performance, which actually the NHS has had too little of."