Waiting times down, doctors' hours up

Friday, 16 May 2003 12:00 AM

NHS waiting lists have fallen below 1million for the first time in a decade, according to the latest figures released by the Department of Health.

Figures for the end of March suggest that over the month the list fell by 35,300, more than 3%. This leaves the total number of people waiting at the end of March at 992,000.

The government has a target that no one should have to wait more than one year, and March saw another step towards achieving that aim. Only 73 people had been waiting for a year or more on the 31st of March, a fall of more than 6,000 on the previous month, and more than 20,000 on the same date last year.

Figures released also include those for patients that have been waiting more than 15 months, of which there were eleven on the 31st of March, and those for patients waiting nine, six and three months, all of which have fallen.

However, there is also more evidence of what some have labelled the postcode lottery. Of all those waiting more than 12 months, more than half could be found in East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust.

With 57 patients having waited more than 1 year, the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust is undergoing an investigation of its waiting list management in an attempt to resolve its problems.

Some have claimed that by focusing on waiting times targets, the government is forcing medical professionals to warp their priorities rather than provide the best possible treatment.

Moreover, the British Medical Association has raised concerns about consultants trying to meet targets by having to work more than 50 hours a week for the NHS.

The BMA has called on these medical professionals to work to rule, and demand a review of their jobs to ensure they do now have to work beyond the 48 hours permitted by the European Working Time Directive.

The statistics have been welcomed by Health Secretary Alan Milburn, who paid tribute to hard working staff for their achievements. However, tension between the government and the BMA after the recent rejection of a new negotiated contract is expected to mount.

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