3. NHS RESOURCES AND ACTIVITY
(continued)
3.8.6 Could the Department update the
information given in Tables 3.9.6? [3.9.6]
ANSWER
1. The information requested is given in
Tables 3.8.6(a) and (b).
Table 3.8.6(a)
NUMBERS OF ADMISSIONS AND REMOVALS
|
| | |
England by admission type
|
| Ordinary
| Day Case |
| 6 months to: | Admitted
| Removed | Admitted
| Removed |
|
| Sep 88 | 941,363
| 72,131 | 359,213
| 18,419 |
| Mar 89 | 938,864
| 86,256 | 392,645
| 23,871 |
| Sep 89 | 959,516
| 92,715 | 420,536
| 26,784 |
| Mar 90 | 934,164
| 109,963 | 454,266
| 31,041 |
| Sep 90 | 910,557
| 101,572 | 465,603
| 36,409 |
| Mar 91 | 888,291
| 125,408 | 496,554
| 43,510 |
| Sep 91 | 918,376
| 115,338 | 534,998
| 47,616 |
| Mar 92 | 938,842
| 157,759 | 601,316
| 67,267 |
| Sep 92 | 901,687
| 124,675 | 638,905
| 67,044 |
| Mar 93 | 879,834
| 139,707 | 691,201
| 80,873 |
| Sep 93 | 829,580
| 131,708 | 712,016
| 85,040 |
| Mar 94 | 800,632
| 137,604 | 768,249
| 97,207 |
| Sep 94 | 796,780
| 136,907 | 849,379
| 111,295 |
| Mar 95 | 804,411
| 143,757 | 925,446
| 129,361 |
| Sep 95 | 763,117
| 128,408 | 943,405
| 131,830 |
| Mar 96 | 767,412
| 139,901 | 1,026,419
| 147,724 |
| Sep 96 | 761,967
| 132,833 | 1,056,084
| 154,879 |
| Mar 97 | 683,421
| 117,203 | 1,047,602
| 147,084 |
| Sep 97 | *
| * | *
| * |
| Mar 98 | *
| * | *
| * |
| Sep 98 | 687,330
| 134,836 | 1,189,074
| 194,417 |
| Mar 99 | 682,511
| 136,383 | 1,267,592
| 206,796 |
| Sep 99 | 662,461
| 120,560 | 1,175,154
| 175,132 |
| Mar 00 | 628,114
| 130,814 | 1,216,451
| 196,281 |
| Sep 00 | 632,607
| 119,418 | 1,112,734
| 172,900 |
| Mar 01 | 608,008
| 133,715 | 1,113,989
| 187,898 |
| Sep 01 | 598,444
| 122,255 | 1,008,152
| 164,812 |
| Mar 02 | 612,537
| 128,485 | 1,025,052
| 165,982 |
| Sep 02 | 615,575
| 119,585 | 1,017,050
| 162,831 |
| Mar 03 | 624,559
| 134,841 | 1,073,797
| 184,096 |
| Sep 03 | 626,734
| 125,352 | 1,029,740
| 171,141 |
| Mar 04 | 638,826
| 136,551 | 1,096,344
| 188,301 |
| Sep 04 | 622,530
| 127,683 | 1,078,635
| 175,447 |
| Mar 05 | 603,509
| 129,753 | 1,086,020
| 179,121 |
|
Source: KH06 NHS Trust-based figures.
* In the year 1997-98, information was collected annually
only.
Table 3.8.6(b)
NUMBER OF SELF DEFERRALS
|
| England by admission type
|
| Number at: | Ordinary
| Day Case |
|
| Sep 88 | 40,753
| 8,433 |
| Mar 89 | 37,098
| 8,769 |
| Sep 89 | 38,224
| 9,905 |
| Mar 90 | 36,441
| 9,735 |
| Sep 90 | 39,274
| 11,865 |
| Mar 91 | 36,115
| 11,998 |
| Sep 91 | 33,868
| 12,469 |
| Mar 92 | 30,965
| 13,151 |
| Sep 92 | 35,992
| 18,134 |
| Mar 93 | 35,800
| 19,095 |
| Sep 93 | 41,550
| 24,142 |
| Mar 94 | 39,189
| 25,185 |
| Sep 94 | 43,538
| 34,946 |
| Mar 95 | 42,188
| 37,152 |
| Sep 95 | 45,004
| 42,650 |
| Mar 96 | 45,112
| 44,908 |
| Sep 96 | 46,876
| 49,632 |
| Mar 97 | 46,022
| 49,390 |
| Sep 97 | *
| * |
| Mar 98 | *
| * |
| Sep 98 | 42,330
| 52,928 |
| Mar 99 | 40,098
| 50,667 |
| Sep 99 | 38,955
| 50,398 |
| Mar 00 | 36,270
| 44,771 |
| Sep 00 | 37,014
| 46,595 |
| Mar 01 | 35,610
| 39,864 |
| Sep 01 | 38,823
| 42,971 |
| Mar 02 | 34,614
| 37,049 |
| Sep 02 | 35,461
| 39,192 |
| Mar 03 | 32,382
| 36,534 |
| Sep 03 | 34,018
| 39,950 |
| Mar 04 | 29,895
| 35,980 |
| Sep 04 | 29,160
| 36,284 |
| Mar 05 | 26,766
| 36,045 |
|
Source: KH07A NHS Trust-based figures.
* In the year 1997-98, information was collected annually only.
|
3.8.7 Could the Department update the information provided
in Tables 3.9.7? [3.9.7]
ANSWER
1. The information requested is given in Table 3.8.7.
Table 3.8.7
TRENDS IN NON-EMERGENCY AND EMERGENCY ACTIVITY AND WAITING
LISTS
|
| | England
|
| Quarter ended:1 | Non-Emergency Activity2,3
| Emergency Activity
| Waiting Lists |
| ('000)
| ('000) | ('000)2
|
|
| 31 Mar 97 | 4,327
| 3,598 | 1,158
|
| 31 Mar 984 | 4,412
| 3,729 | 1,298
|
| 31 Mar 99 | 4,827
| 3,849 | 1,073
|
| 31 Mar 00 | 4,891
| 3,887 | 1,037
|
| 31 Mar 01 | 5,001
| 3,943 | 1,007
|
| 31 Mar 035 | 5,036
| 3,961 | 1,035
|
| 31 Mar 035 | 5,262
| 4,007 | 992
|
| 31 Mar 04 | 5,445
| 4,274 | 906
|
| 31 Mar 056,7 | 5,446
| 4,474 | 822
|
|
Source: KH07 NHS trust based figures, Health Authority
Quarterly and Monthly monitoring returns
1. Figures for years prior to 2004-05 have been rebased
to allow direct comparison.
2. Non-emergency and emergency activity are figures are for
admissions purchased by the NHS ("commissioner-based").
These figures cover General & Acute specialties which do not
include mental health, learning difficulties or maternity services.
Waiting list figures relate to the number of patients waiting
in NHS trusts (provider based).
3. Non-emergency activity includes waiting list, booked and
planned admissions.
4. From 30 June 1998, activity is on the basis of finished
first consultant episodes.
5. Figures prior to 2001-02 are from Health Authorities. With
the abolition of Health Authorities, figures for 2001-02 and 2002-03
are based on returns from NHS Trusts.
6. Figures are subject to revision when final outturn figures
are received.
7. Data are presented for financial years and are not adjusted
for the differing number of working days per year. There were
three fewer working days (251) in 2004-05 compared with 2003-04
(254) as a consequence of two Easters in the same financial year.
3.8.8 Could the Department update the information
provided in Table 3.9.8? [3.9.8]
ANSWER
1. The information requested is given in Table 3.8.8.
Table 3.8.8
AVERAGE WAITING TIMES AND NUMBERS FOR FIRST OUTPATIENT
APPOINTMENTS
|
| | |
England |
| Quarter | Median
waiting time
(weeks)
| Outpatients
See after GP
written referral
| Total first
attendances
seen
|
|
| Q3 1993-94 | 6.01
| 1,490,439 | 1,683,116
|
| Q4 1993-94 | 5.47
| 1,809,117 | 2,118,240
|
| Q1 1994-95 | 5.42
| 1,603,723 | 1,966,464
|
| Q2 1994-95 | 5.69
| 2,026,726 | 2,411,193
|
| Q3 1993-95 | 5.82
| 2,019,438 | 2,412,634
|
| Q4 1994-95 | 5.72
| 2,003,009 | 2,569,639
|
| Q1 1995-96 | 6.01
| 1,804,040 | 2,415,895
|
| Q2 1995-96 | 6.31
| 1,847,549 | 2,524,893
|
| Q3 1995-96 | 6.07
| 1,904,040 | 2,566,011
|
| Q4 1995-96 | 6.02
| 2,010,249 | 2,715,403
|
| Q1 1996-97 | 6.13
| 1,869,773 | 2,577,037
|
| Q2 1996-97 | 6.18
| 1,893,706 | 2,635,007
|
| Q3 1996-97 | 6.05
| 1,921,446 | 2,650,803
|
| Q4 1996-97 | 6.05
| 1,880,217 | 2,642,116
|
| Q1 1997-98 | 6.17
| 1,904,564 | 2,689,803
|
| Q2 1997-98 | 6.37
| 1,896,977 | 2,675,056
|
| Q3 1997-98 | 6.25
| 1,888,560 | 2,663,871
|
| Q4 1997-98 | 6.27
| 1,919,032 | 2,732,305
|
| Q1 1998-99 | 6.49
| 1,827,140 | 2,660,499
|
| Q2 1998-99 | 6.80
| 1,881,607 | 2,739,913
|
| Q3 1998-99 | 6.89
| 1,894,358 | 2,732,047
|
| Q4 1998-99 | 6.99
| 1,929,607 | 2,803,960
|
| Q1 1999-2000 | 7.09
| 1,837,726 | 2,714,179
|
| Q2 1999-2000 | 7.31
| 1,907,904 | 2,798,366
|
| Q3 1999-2000 | 7.32
| 1,935,766 | 2,791,712
|
| Q4 1999-2000 | 7.58
| 2,028,664 | 2,953,779
|
| Q1 2000-01 | 7.11
| 1,884,939 | 2,795,853
|
| Q2 2000-01 | 7.45
| 1,949,273 | 2,863,533
|
| Q3 2000-01 | 7.38
| 2,005,711 | 2,919,968
|
| Q4 2000-01 | 7.38
| 2,098,170 | 3,050,816
|
| Q1 2001-02 | 6.89
| 1,895,469 | 3,020,570
|
| Q2 2001-02 | 7.21
| 1,961,853 | 3,099,821
|
| Q3 2001-02 | 7.27
| 2,047,053 | 3,209,768
|
| Q4 2001-02 | 7.57
| 2,111,633 | 3,282,456
|
| Q1 2002-03 | 7.03
| 1,925,171 | 3,131,580
|
| Q2 2002-03 | 7.15
| 2,017,304 | 3,183,497
|
| Q3 2002-03 | 7.22
| 2,037,703 | 3,232,958
|
| Q4 2002-03 | 7.34
| 2,092,696 | 3,330,764
|
| Q1 2003-04 | 6.86
| 1,934,432 | 3,287,221
|
| Q2 2003-04 | 7.05
| 2,015,385 | 3,345,338
|
| Q3 2003-04 | 7.01
| 2,043,324 | 3,336,063
|
| Q4 2003-04 | 7.08
| 2,093,093 | 3,461,908
|
| Q1 2004-05 | 6.84
| 1,929,394 | 3,283,997
|
| Q2 2004-05 | 7.08
| 2,030,623 | 3,395,417
|
| Q3 2004-05 | 6.87
| 2,048,503 | 3,381,515
|
| Q4 2004-05 | 6.96
| 1,976,662 | 3,301,587
|
|
| Source: QM08 NHS Trust-based figures, KH09Q and QMOP (attendances 2001-02 onwards)
|
3.8.9 Could the Department update the information
provided in Tables 3.9.9? [3.9.9]
ANSWER
1. The information requested is given in Tables 3.8.9(a),
(b), (c) and (d).
Table 3.8.9(a)
ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER OF NHS GP CONSULTATIONS IN ENGLAND
PER YEAR
|
| Year | Total consultations
(to the nearest 1,000,000)
|
|
| 1991 | 214,000,000
|
| 1992 | 232,000,000
|
| 1993 | 252,000,000
|
| 1994 | 224,000,000
|
| 1995 | 235,000,000
|
| 1996 | 254,000,000
|
| 1997 | n/a
|
| 1998 | 217,000,000
|
| 1999 | n/a
|
| 2000 | 221,000,000
|
| 2001 | 218,000,000
|
| 2002 | 243,000,000
|
| 2003 | 215,000,000
|
|
| Source: the consultation estimates are prepared using General Household Survey (GHS) data and ONS mid year population estimates.
|
Table 3.8.9(b)
NUMBERS OF REFERRALS FOR FIRST OUTPATIENT APPOINTMENTS
|
| | |
England |
| Referrals for first OP appointment Quarter
| GP | Other
| Total |
|
| Q3 1993-94 | 1,440,814
| 383,043 | 1,823,857
|
| Q4 1993-94 | 1,777,656
| 344,218 | 2,121,874
|
| Q1 1994-95 | 1,819,356
| 340,342 | 2,159,698
|
| Q2 1994-95 | 2,058,342
| 432,163 | 2,490,505
|
| Q3 1994-95 | 1,993,288
| 424,785 | 2,418,073
|
| Q4 1994-95 | 2,125,033
| 483,637 | 2,608,670
|
| Q1 1995-96 | 2,099,602
| 533,986 | 2,633,588
|
| Q2 1995-96 | 2,106,125
| 612,669 | 2,718,794
|
| Q3 1995-96 | 2,104,221
| 564,377 | 2,668,598
|
| Q4 1995-96 | 2,237,690
| 611,431 | 2,849,121
|
| Q1 1996-97 | 2,210,968
| 671,360 | 2,882,328
|
| Q2 1996-97 | 2,186,116
| 716,100 | 2,902,216
|
| Q3 1996-97 | 2,138,071
| 745,224 | 2,883,295
|
| Q4 1996-97 | 2,157,003
| 744,835 | 2,901,838
|
| Q1 1997-98 | 2,328,045
| 824,639 | 3,152,684
|
| Q2 1997-98 | 2,224,842
| 818,295 | 3,043,137
|
| Q3 1997-98 | 2,153,204
| 837,943 | 2,991,147
|
| Q4 1997-98 | 2,285,631
| 847,327 | 3,132,958
|
| Q1 1998-99 | 2,301,253
| 847,767 | 3,149,020
|
| Q2 1998-99 | 2,282,527
| 861,021 | 3,143,548
|
| Q3 1998-99 | 2,239,178
| 818,292 | 3,057,470
|
| Q4 1998-99 | 2,316,827
| 834,171 | 3,150,998
|
| Q1 1999-00 | 2,317,334
| 863,030 | 3,180,364
|
| Q2 1999-00 | 2,270,191
| 872,706 | 3,142,897
|
| Q3 1999-00 | 2,214,415
| 840,426 | 3,054,841
|
| Q4 1999-00 | 2,339,485
| 884,742 | 3,224,227
|
| Q1 2000-01 | 2,356,768
| 907,634 | 3,264,402
|
| Q2 2000-01 | 2,318,477
| 931,285 | 3,249,762
|
| Q3 2000-01 | 2,287,884
| 915,406 | 3,203,290
|
| Q4 2000-01 | 2,399,641
| 963,146 | 3,362,787
|
| Q1 2001-02 | 2,403,361
| 998,386 | 3,401,747
|
| Q2 2001-02 | 2,358,005
| 1,004,419 | 3,362,424
|
| Q3 2001-02 | 2,322,399
| 1,001,622 | 3,324,021
|
| Q4 2001-02 | 2,386,577
| 1,012,131 | 3,398,708
|
| Q1 2002-03 | 2,415,744
| 1,060,349 | 3,476,093
|
| Q2 2002-03 | 2,453,148
| 1,080,701 | 3,533,849
|
| Q3 2002-03 | 2,362,178
| 1,052,160 | 3,414,338
|
| Q4 2002-03 | 2,424,804
| 1,106,192 | 3,530,996
|
| Q1 2003-04 | 2,425,663
| 1,139,591 | 3,565,254
|
| Q2 2003-04 | 2,448,980
| 1,162,821 | 3,611,801
|
| Q3 2003-04 | 2,401,147
| 1,137,102 | 3,538,249
|
| Q4 2003-04 | 2,526,447
| 1,204,148 | 3,730,595
|
| Q1 2004-05 | 2,489,811
| 1,236,602 | 3,726,413
|
| Q2 2004-05 | 2,483,388
| 1,259,532 | 3,742,920
|
| Q3 2004-05 | 2,426,280
| 1,228,729 | 3,655,009
|
| Q4 2004-05 | 2,383,046
| 1,239,734 | 3,622,780
|
|
| Source: QM08 NHS Trust-based figures
|
Table 3.8.9(c)
NUMBER OF PLACEMENTS ON WAITING LIST (DECISION TO ADMIT)
|
| England
|
| Quarter | Number of Decisions to admit
|
|
| Q1 1991-92 | 772,512
|
| Q2 1991-92 | 793,501
|
| Q3 1991-92 | 820,827
|
| Q4 1991-92 | 870,775
|
| Q1 1992-93 | 836,550
|
| Q2 1992-93 | 858,452
|
| Q3 1992-93 | 890,264
|
| Q4 1992-93 | 895,002
|
| Q1 1993-94 | 853,524
|
| Q2 1993-94 | 869,617
|
| Q3 1993-94 | 862,073
|
| Q4 1993-94 | 916,501
|
| Q1 1994-95 | 919,679
|
| Q2 1994-95 | 924,721
|
| Q3 1994-95 | 937,033
|
| Q4 1994-95 | 983,974
|
| Q1 1995-96 | 944,241
|
| Q2 1995-96 | 967,048
|
| Q3 1995-96 | 1,005,019
|
| Q4 1995-96 | 1,052,517
|
| Q1 1996-97 | 1,031,618
|
| Q2 1996-97 | 1,034,147
|
| Q3 1996-97 | 1,033,372
|
| Q4 1996-97 | 1,012,374
|
| Q1 1997-98 | *
|
| Q2 1997-98 | *
|
| Q3 1997-98 | *
|
| Q4 1997-98 | *
|
| Q1 1998-99 | 1,018,946
|
| Q2 1998-99 | 1,063,473
|
| Q3 1998-99 | 1,054,530
|
| Q4 1998-99 | 1,052,374
|
| Q1 1999-00 | 1,033,256
|
| Q2 1999-00 | 1,042,575
|
| Q3 1999-00 | 1,035,313
|
| Q4 1999-00 | 1,047,934
|
| Q1 2000-01 | 988,441
|
| Q2 2000-01 | 982,086
|
| Q3 2000-01 | 972,485
|
| Q4 2000-01 | 992,918
|
| Q1 2001-02 | 928,736
|
| Q2 2001-02 | 934,025
|
| Q3 2001-02 | 958,877
|
| Q4 2001-02 | 959,799
|
| Q1 2002-03 | 917,299
|
| Q2 2002-03 | 941,534
|
| Q3 2002-03 | 948,312
|
| Q4 2002-03 | 971,245
|
| Q1 2003-04 | 917,649
|
| Q2 2003-04 | 943,457
|
| Q3 2003-04 | 954,998
|
| Q4 2003-04 | 986,640
|
| Q1 2004-05 | 932,332
|
| Q2 2004-05 | 955,373
|
| Q3 2004-05 | 960,167
|
| Q4 2004-05 | 939,841
|
|
Source: KH06 NHS Trust-based figures
* In the year 1997-98, information was collected annually
only.
Table 3.8.9(d)
NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES AT FIRST OUTPATIENT APPOINTMENTS
|
| | England
|
| Quarter | Outpatients
Seen after GP
written referral
| Total first
attendance
seen
|
|
| Q3 1993-94 | 1,490,439
| 1,683,116 |
| Q4 1993-94 | 1,809,117
| 2,118,240 |
| Q1 1994-95 | 1,603,723
| 1,966,464 |
| Q2 1994-95 | 2,026,726
| 2,411,193 |
| Q3 1993-95 | 2,019,438
| 2,412,634 |
| Q4 1994-95 | 2,003,009
| 2,569,639 |
| Q1 1995-96 | 1,804,040
| 2,415,895 |
| Q2 1995-96 | 1,847,549
| 2,524,893 |
| Q3 1995-96 | 1,904,040
| 2,566,011 |
| Q4 1995-96 | 2,010,249
| 2,715,403 |
| Q1 1996-97 | 1,869,773
| 2,577,037 |
| Q2 1996-97 | 1,893,706
| 2,635,007 |
| Q3 1996-97 | 1,921,446
| 2,650,803 |
| Q4 1996-97 | 1,880,217
| 2,642,116 |
| Q1 1997-98 | 1,904,564
| 2,689,803 |
| Q2 1997-98 | 1,896,977
| 2,675,056 |
| Q3 1997-98 | 1,888,560
| 2,663,871 |
| Q4 1997-98 | 1,919,032
| 2,732,305 |
| Q1 1998-99 | 1,827,140
| 2,660,499 |
| Q2 1998-99 | 1,881,607
| 2,739,913 |
| Q3 1998-99 | 1,894,358
| 2,732,047 |
| Q4 1998-99 | 1,929,607
| 2,803,960 |
| Q1 1999-00 | 1,837,726
| 2,714,179 |
| Q2 1999-00 | 1,907,904
| 2,798,366 |
| Q3 1999-00 | 1,935,766
| 2,791,712 |
| Q4 1999-00 | 2,028,664
| 2,953,779 |
| Q1 2000-01 | 1,884,939
| 2,795,853 |
| Q2 2000-01 | 1,949,273
| 2,863,533 |
| Q3 2000-01 | 2,005,711
| 2,919,968 |
| Q4 2000-01 | 2,098,170
| 3,050,816 |
| Q1 2001-02 | 1,895,469
| 3,020,570 |
| Q2 2001-02 | 1,961,853
| 3,099,821 |
| Q3 2001-02 | 2,047,053
| 3,209,768 |
| Q4 2001-02 | 2,111,633
| 3,282,456 |
| Q1 2002-03 | 1,925,171
| 3,131,580 |
| Q2 2002-03 | 2,017,304
| 3,183,497 |
| Q3 2002-03 | 2,037,703
| 3,232,958 |
| Q4 2002-03 | 2,092,696
| 3,330,764 |
| Q1 2003-04 | 1,934,432
| 3,287,221 |
| Q2 2003-04 | 2,015,385
| 3,345,338 |
| Q3 2003-04 | 2,043,324
| 3,336,063 |
| Q4 2003-04 | 2,093,093
| 3,461,908 |
| Q1 2004-05 | 1,929,394
| 3,283,997 |
| Q2 2004-05 | 2,030,623
| 3,395,417 |
| Q3 2004-05 | 2,048,503
| 3,381,515 |
| Q4 2004-05 | 1,976,662
| 3,301,587 |
|
| Source: QM08 NHS Trust-based figures, KH09Q & QMOP (attendances 2001-02 onwards).
|
3.8.10 What additional mechanisms have been put in
place since last year's response to deal with waiting lists/ time,
and what has been the cost of these additional mechanisms? [3.9.10]
ANSWER
1. The key national measures taken over the past year
(2004-05) to support the NHS in reducing waiting lists and waiting
times included:
— Creating clear and challenging, but achievable
national targets and standards
In 2000, the Department published the NHS Plan, which
set out clear targets for improving access to NHS services. This
publication set out how, by the end of 2005, maximum waiting times
for a first outpatient appointment with a consultant would be
reduced to 13 weeks (from over 26 weeks) to 6 months for inpatient
treatment (surgery) from 18 months.
On 1 April 2004, the targets in were reduced to 17 weeks for
first outpatient appointments (down from 21 weeks) and 9 months
for inpatient treatment (down from 12 months).
In addition to this, the Department has even shorter maximum
waits in specific areas such as Cancer (two weeks for a first
outpatient appointment and two months from urgent GP referral
to treatment), Coronary Heart Disease (maximum three months for
heart surgery) and cataracts (three months maximum wait by December
2004).
More recently, in the NHS improvement plan (2004) the Department
has gone even further, and has set a target that, by the end of
2008, the maximum length of time any patient should have to wait
will be just 18 weeks from General Practitioner referral to start
of treatment.
— The National Orthopaedic Project introduced
tailored support to those Trusts facing the highest degree of
challenge in reducing waiting times for orthopaedic patients.
— "Choice at Six Months" framework
was introduced to offer faster treatment at alternative hospitals
to those patients who would otherwise wait more than six months
for inpatient treatment. The scheme reduced waiting times by offering
faster treatment to patients facing some of the longest waits,
and providing a real incentive to hospitals to treat patients
within the six month target.
— Independent Sector was used selectively
to bring on additional capacity more quickly. This included purchasing
capacity for diagnostics as well as inpatient treatments.
— Waiting list management was supported by
a number of national tools, developed with the support of the
Modernisation Agency, that include Primary Targetting Lists (PTLs),
Clinical Prioritise and Treat (CpaT) and the NOP (see above).
2. These policies and programmes include a mix of national
and local investment. See Table 3.8.10. Many of the programmes
have a range of objectives and benefits and it is not possible
to accurately attribute expenditure to the objective of reducing
waiting times and lists. However, the most significant items of
national investment in 2004-05 have been:
— National Orthopaedic Project £3 million.
— The General Supplementary Procurement (Gsup) budget
of £75 million was used to purchase 25,000 procedures from
two private providers.
— The Independent Sector Treatment Centre Programme
represents an investment of £400 million per year over five
years (from 2003-04 to 2007-08 onwards).
3. The success of these measures and those undertaken
locally can be judged by the significant reductions in NHS waiting
times. Between March 2004 and March 2005:
(i) the number of inpatients waiting over six months fell
by half to 40,000 and the number waiting over 3 months by over
64,000 to less than 260,000, more than 50% less than March 1997;
and
(ii) the number of outpatients waiting over 13 weeks fell
by over 10,000 to 30,000, more than 300,000 less than that inherited
in June 1997. By March 2005, the number waiting over 17 weeks
fell to less than 150, down from just under 100,000 in June 2002
(when the figures were first available).
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