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| Patients wait 'for over a year' | Patients wait 'for over a year' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The true picture of waiting times in the NHS is emerging with about one in eight hospital patients waiting for over a year, government figures show. | The true picture of waiting times in the NHS is emerging with about one in eight hospital patients waiting for over a year, government figures show. |
| Waiting times to date have only started from the point of diagnosis rather than from when patients see their GP. | Waiting times to date have only started from the point of diagnosis rather than from when patients see their GP. |
| But ministers have promised to tackle this so-called hidden wait as part of their 18-week target for December 2008. | But ministers have promised to tackle this so-called hidden wait as part of their 18-week target for December 2008. |
| A poll of 200,000 patients in March showed nearly half were treated in 18 weeks, but some long waits remain. | A poll of 200,000 patients in March showed nearly half were treated in 18 weeks, but some long waits remain. |
| Around two-thirds of the long waits are in specialities such as orthopaedics, ophthalmology, gynaecology and ear, nose and throat. | Around two-thirds of the long waits are in specialities such as orthopaedics, ophthalmology, gynaecology and ear, nose and throat. |
| These figures demonstrate how far we have to go to catch up with most other developed countries Norman Lamb, of the Lib Dems | These figures demonstrate how far we have to go to catch up with most other developed countries Norman Lamb, of the Lib Dems |
| But the government has taken heart in the figures, which show 48% of patients needing non-emergency surgery were seen within 18 weeks. | But the government has taken heart in the figures, which show 48% of patients needing non-emergency surgery were seen within 18 weeks. |
| The target - from GP referral to treatment - is widely regarded as the most-challenging NHS target set. | The target - from GP referral to treatment - is widely regarded as the most-challenging NHS target set. |
| All patients are currently seen within six months, but that is just from the point of diagnosis. | All patients are currently seen within six months, but that is just from the point of diagnosis. |
| Research by the Liberal Democrats has shown that for many patients the "hidden wait" can be just as long as the official wait. | Research by the Liberal Democrats has shown that for many patients the "hidden wait" can be just as long as the official wait. |
| 'huge psychological step' | 'huge psychological step' |
| Health Minister Andy Burnham said the data was a "huge psychological step" for the NHS. | Health Minister Andy Burnham said the data was a "huge psychological step" for the NHS. |
| "For the first time we are putting before the patients and public data on the true experience." | "For the first time we are putting before the patients and public data on the true experience." |
| Nigel Edwards, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, agreed the latest figures gave a much "clearer" picture. | Nigel Edwards, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, agreed the latest figures gave a much "clearer" picture. |
| He added: "There is optimism within the health service that the 18-week target will be met." | He added: "There is optimism within the health service that the 18-week target will be met." |
| But Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "These figures demonstrate how far we have to go to catch up with most other developed countries. | But Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "These figures demonstrate how far we have to go to catch up with most other developed countries. |
| "Behind the statistics, thousands of sick people are still waiting more than a year for hospital treatment. This is a daily tragedy." | "Behind the statistics, thousands of sick people are still waiting more than a year for hospital treatment. This is a daily tragedy." |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley added: "After 10 years of Labour claims that they have abolished long waits for treatment, only now do we have figures which show the reality for many patients." |