This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21433291
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Patients wait 45 weeks for ENT consultant | Patients wait 45 weeks for ENT consultant |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The scrapping of a GP service in east Belfast is being blamed for soaring hospital waiting lists. | The scrapping of a GP service in east Belfast is being blamed for soaring hospital waiting lists. |
| The service was designed to reduce demand on the Belfast health trust and saw GP's perform ear, nose and throat procedures. | The service was designed to reduce demand on the Belfast health trust and saw GP's perform ear, nose and throat procedures. |
| However, it is thought its loss now means there is now a 45-week waiting time to see a hospital consultant. | However, it is thought its loss now means there is now a 45-week waiting time to see a hospital consultant. |
| In a statement, the health board said the pilot scheme had come to an end and was currently being evaluated. | In a statement, the health board said the pilot scheme had come to an end and was currently being evaluated. |
| More than 1,200 patients had been treated at Holywood Arches health centre by GPs who specialise in ENT procedures. | More than 1,200 patients had been treated at Holywood Arches health centre by GPs who specialise in ENT procedures. |
| It had been running for about 18 months. | It had been running for about 18 months. |
| BBC NI health correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly said: "The benefits were two-fold. | BBC NI health correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly said: "The benefits were two-fold. |
| "Patients were seen quickly, while pressure and cost was removed from the Royal Victoria Hospital. | "Patients were seen quickly, while pressure and cost was removed from the Royal Victoria Hospital. |
| "This method of shifting care out into the community is the over-riding principle behind the document Transforming Your Care, the Department of Health's new road map for delivering some local services. | "This method of shifting care out into the community is the over-riding principle behind the document Transforming Your Care, the Department of Health's new road map for delivering some local services. |
| "While the health board says the scheme was only ever a pilot, sources have told the BBC that some officials didn't like the idea of GPs having so much control over patients or resources. | "While the health board says the scheme was only ever a pilot, sources have told the BBC that some officials didn't like the idea of GPs having so much control over patients or resources. |
| "If health reforms are to work here, tensions will need to be resolved between the BMA and the Health and Social Care Board." | "If health reforms are to work here, tensions will need to be resolved between the BMA and the Health and Social Care Board." |
| In a statement, the Belfast trust confirmed that the waiting time to see a consultant was approximately 45 weeks. | In a statement, the Belfast trust confirmed that the waiting time to see a consultant was approximately 45 weeks. |
| "The target we have agreed, and are working to from 1 April 2013, is 15 weeks for adult ENT from receipt of GP referral for a new routine referral," it said. | "The target we have agreed, and are working to from 1 April 2013, is 15 weeks for adult ENT from receipt of GP referral for a new routine referral," it said. |
| "However urgent referrals are seen within six weeks from receipt of GP referral or within a week if referred to the Rapid Access Clinic. | "However urgent referrals are seen within six weeks from receipt of GP referral or within a week if referred to the Rapid Access Clinic. |
| "We apologise to anyone that may have to wait for an outpatient appointment and are working towards reducing the wait times." | "We apologise to anyone that may have to wait for an outpatient appointment and are working towards reducing the wait times." |
| The BBC has learned that the waiting list for ENT referral in the northern trust is 18 weeks, with a further 18 weeks for a procedure to be carried out. | The BBC has learned that the waiting list for ENT referral in the northern trust is 18 weeks, with a further 18 weeks for a procedure to be carried out. |
| In the south-eastern trust, there is a 15-week wait for an outpatient appointment and a further 28 weeks for any procedures. | In the south-eastern trust, there is a 15-week wait for an outpatient appointment and a further 28 weeks for any procedures. |
| In the southern trust, the average wait for a patient for a routine first appointment is 10 weeks. The trust said at present it had one patient who had been waiting 17 weeks for a very specialised appointment. | |
| There is a nine-week wait for referral in the western trust area. |