| Gerry Marr, NHS Tayside’s chief operating officer, was speaking after the Scottish Executive issued the latest quarterly waiting times which showed Tayside and Fife had no patients breaching the current maximum waiting time of 26 weeks for inpatient and day case treatment.
But Mr Marr and his team have their eye on the more stringent target of 18 weeks maximum wait, which will come in to force at the end of December next year.
Today’s figures record the number waiting over 18 weeks at June 30 in Tayside was 352, a drop from the previous quarter (438). In Fife the corresponding statistics were 294, down from 339.
Mr Marr said sustaining the 18 week maximum would be challenging, particularly in areas like orthopaedics and ear, nose and throat surgery, where more and more patients were being sent to hospital for treatment.
“We are definitely seeing a gradual increase and are looking in to the reasons for that,” said Mr Marr. “Nevertheless a report going to the Delivery Unit Committee next week will reaffirm our confidence in reaching the (2007) targets.”
He was particularly pleased with the statistics that showed NHS Tayside’s acclaimed accident and emergency department had consistently achieved the four-hour maximum target for patients being seen, treated and sent home or admitted to hospital.
“We have been at 98% consistently for four months,” said Mr Marr. “That’s a pretty good performance.”
Nationally today’s figures show waiting times in Scotland are at their lowest ever and the NHS is well on track to deliver the maximum waiting times target of 18 weeks by the end of 2007.
Scotland’s First Minister Jack McConnell said, “Today’s figures are the best ever and show the NHS in Scotland is delivering for patients.
“We have hit our existing targets again and have made great strides towards even tougher targets.
“Our unprecedented investment in the NHS and increased use of the independent sector has already resulted in thousands of patients being treated faster.”
The figures confirm that numbers waiting over 18 weeks for both inpatient/day case treatment and for outpatient appointments are at an all time low — inpatients/day cases down by nearly 4900 (55%) and outpatients down by nearly 21,000 (65%) over the year.
Figures from the April 2006 A&E waiting times survey shows that almost nine out of 10 patients waited less than four hours before discharge, admission or transfer.
The Executive’s treatment standard — which comes into force at the end of 2007 — is that 98% of patients are discharged, transferred or admitted within four hours.
Health Minister Andy Kerr said, “The data shows the vast majority of A & E departments are meeting the four hour target. Of course, most patients experience far shorter waits — the average wait is actually just over one hour and a half.” |
