Patients in Scotland will be given hospital treatment within 18 weeks of being referred by their GP under a new three-year plan to deliver swift and top quality care for all.
The pledge was made today by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon, with the backing of a 270 million pound support package.
The Scottish Government will work closely with NHS Boards to ensure this milestone target is achieved by December 2011.
The new target does not focus on a single stage of care, but addresses the whole patient care pathway. It will mean that patients will receive treatment within 18 weeks of seeing their GP, regardless of how many hospital appointments they need.
As a major first step, NHS Scotland has been tasked to reduce the maximum wait for an outpatient consultation to 15 weeks, diagnostic tests to six weeks, and inpatient and day case treatment to 15 weeks by March 31, 2009
Launching the formal work programme to deliver the new 18 week standard to an audience of NHS staff today, Ms Sturgeon said:
“The people of Scotland deserve nothing less than a world-class healthcare system, where unnecessary waiting for treatment and care becomes a thing of the past.
“The NHS in Scotland should be commended for their work in reducing waiting times. Excellent progress has been made, and just last week I congratulated boards for delivering against a number of key December 2007 targets.
“All patients are being seen in a clinic within 18 weeks of being referred by a GP, and if an operation is needed, all inpatients and day cases are being treated within 18 weeks of being placed on a hospital waiting list, which could mean a patient waiting a total of 36 weeks.
“Looking ahead, we must strive for continuous improvement and realise that much more needs to be done to meet patients’ expectations. The progress made has shown achieving targets is only possible through the goodwill and effort of everyone in the health service.
“Today’s announcement is different from previous targets. It poses a very significant challenge, since it effectively reduces current maximum waiting times by more than half.
“Nobody expects overnight change. Realistic short, medium and long-term goals have been set within a considerable structure.
“Easing the pressure of long waiting times give us the opportunity to provide ever-better care, dramatically improve patient experience and reduce bureaucracy – saving time, energy and resources. I am absolutely determined that NHS boards will deliver on this with the assistance of a robust support package.”
source-Scottish Parliament