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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have waited more than (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months and (d) 12 months for elective admissions in each year since 1997. [112978] Mr. Hutton:The table shows the length of time a patient waited for an elective finished in-year admission from 1997-98 to 2001-02, which is the latest year for which figures are available. Elective Finished In-Year Admissions, Waiting List and Booked Cases: Finished Consultant Episodes--NHS Hospitals England, 1997-98 to 2001-02 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Length of time patient 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 waited More than 3 months 1,134,491 1,307,371 1,147,551 1,133,824 1,155,138 More than 6 months 601,994 723,520 592,752 587,714 604,109 More than 9 months 356,778 445,320 349,472 343,787 354,641 More than 12 months 183,506 245,884 189,565 186,096 188,023 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health There is a clear pattern of significant reduction demonstrated in the waiting time information at the end of March 2003. Across all the time bands there have been significant reductions in the number of patients waiting compared to March 1997. This reduction is most apparent in the number of over 12 month waiters, where a total of only 103 patients were waiting at the end of March 2003. Source: Department of Health form QF01 Notes: A finished consultant episode is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within the year. Figures in this table have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data. Waiting time statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and waiting times for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment at a given point in time and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the waiting time 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.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

112978; 410 c294W;410 c334W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Admissions Administrative delays Hospitals Patients Waiting lists Surgery

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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