Written question asked by Lord Lansley (Conservative) on Friday, 14 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 27 January 2005. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Thursday, 27 January 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.
Dept of Health
- Question
- To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to monitor waiting times for follow-up appointments for patients following completion of their inpatient procedure; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of the maximum 18-week waiting target, as described in the NHS Improvement Plan, column 6268, paragraph 2.11, on waiting-times for follow-up appointments; what mechanisms he plans to use to monitor progress towards meeting the 18-week maximum waiting target by 2008, as described in the NHS Improvement Plan, column 6268, paragraph 2.11; what elements of the patient journey are monitored for the purposes of assessing waiting times; what plans he has to measure waiting times for diagnostic tests; and what plans he has to introduce monitoring for all other elements of the patient journey.
- Answer
-
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to monitor waiting times for follow-up appointments for patients following completion of their in-patient procedure; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of the maximum 18-week waiting target, as described in the NHS Improvement Plan, column 6268, paragraph 2.11, on waiting-times for follow-up appointments; [209634] (2) what mechanisms he plans to use to monitor progress towards meeting the 18-week maximum waiting target by 2008, as described in the NHS Improvement Plan, column 6268, paragraph 2.11; [209635] (3) what elements of the patient journey are monitored for the purposes of assessing waiting times; what plans he has to measure waiting times for diagnostic tests; and what plans he has to introduce monitoring for all other elements of the patient journey. [209636] Mr. Hutton: The Department currently monitors waiting times from general practitioner referral to first out-patient appointment and from consultant referral to in-patient or day case treatment. However, by the end of 2008, waiting times will be measured from GP referral to start of treatment. This will include any necessary diagnostic tests or procedures. Progress towards meeting the 18-week target from GP referral to start of treatment will be monitored against local delivery plans. Strategic health authorities and primary care trusts are currently developing their plans and these will be agreed with the Department in the spring. There are no plans nationally to monitor waiting times for follow-up appointments after in-patient treatment. Trusts are expected to continue to offer follow up appointments as clinically appropriate.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 430 c564W; 209634;209635;209636
- Session
- 2004-05
- Related items
- Subjects
- Hospitals Patients Waiting lists Standards Screening Post-operative care
- Link
- View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2017-11-21 21:04:37 +0000
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