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Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Answer

Median time waited (days) for hip replacement operations for Sunderland Primary Care Trust and England are shown in the following table:

	Sunderland Primary Care Trust	England
2001-02	337	220
2002-03	283	229
2003-04	223	217
2004-05	227	182
2005-06	167	158
2006-07	165	148
2007-08	147	107
Notes:
1. Time waited data has been provided where the main operation was a hip replacement operation.
2. Operative procedure codes were revised for 2006-07 and 2007-08. The 2008-09 and 2007-08 data uses OPCS 4.4 codes, 2006-07 data uses OPCS 4.3 codes, data prior to 2006-07 uses OPCS 4.2 codes. All codes that were in OPCS 4.2 remain in later OPCS 4 versions, however the introduction of OPCS 4.3 codes enable the recording of interventions and procedures which were not possible in OPCS 4.2. In particular, OPCS 4.3 and OPCS 4.4 codes include high cost drugs and diagnostic imaging, testing and rehabilitation. Some activity may have been coded under different codes in OPCS 4.2. These changes need to be borne in mind when analysing time series and may explain some apparent variations over time. Please note that care needs to be taken in using the newer codes as some providers of data were unable to start using the new codes at the beginning of each data year.
3. The quality and coverage of HES data have improved over time. The improvements in information submitted by the national health service have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.
4. Time waited statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period, whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.
Source:
Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

497 c722W; 289332

Session

2008-09

Subjects

Waiting lists Hip replacements

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk