Written question asked by Lord Lansley (Conservative) on Tuesday, 22 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 November 2005. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Monday, 16 January 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Waiting Lists/Times

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 October 2005, Official Report, column 2843W, on waiting times, whether the Department has agreed local delivery plans with every strategic health authority; where the Department is piloting data collections to support the 18-week waiting time target; where these pilots are taking place; whether she has taken a decision on whether data drawn from the pilots will be published; and when she intends to begin monitoring waiting times across England for the purpose of measuring the 18-week waiting time target.

Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 8 December 2005, Official Report, column 1579W.Measurement of the total patient pathway, from referral to treatment, will be in place in advance of 2008 to help support delivery of 18 weeks. In the meantime, all strategic health authorities (SHAs) have developed plans, based upon the three stages of treatment, outpatients, diagnostics and inpatients, which have been signed off by the Department.Primary care trusts and SHAs have recently been asked to refresh their plans for cutting long waits for outpatients, diagnostics and inpatients, in order to reflect their latest thinking on achievement of the 18-week target. We plan to monitor referral-to-treatment times across England from early 2007.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 441 c1077W; 31895
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Waiting Times
Thursday, 8 December 2005
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Hospitals Pilot schemes Waiting lists
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk