Waiting lists down

8:44am Monday 4th August 2008

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Waiting lists for specialist NHS treatment in the county are at their lowest ever, according to the Wiltshire Primary Care Trust.

The organisation said in June more than 91 per cent of patients in the county waited less than 18 weeks to complete treatment after being referred by their GP - equating to 7,016 out of 7,406 patients.

The national target is for trusts to get 90 per cent of admitted patients, where treatment involves a hospital stay, and 95 per cent of non-admitted patients, seen within 18 weeks.

The trust said it has achieved its target with six months to spare. Its next goal is to get waiting lists down to less than 13 weeks for each speciality by the end of the year.

But the PCT said it would be paying extra attention to waiting lists for orthopaedics, plastic and oral surgery, where the lists remain slightly higher.

PCT director of finance and commissioning, John Williams, said the turn-around in waiting times was due to increased funding and a smoother process from referral to treatment.

He confirmed the PCT was planning to spend another £4m this year to increase capacity at acute hospitals, such as the Royal United Hospital in Bath and the Great Western Hospital in Swindon.

This money will also allow patients to undergo operations at independent-sector hospitals in Shepton Mallet, New Hall, Salisbury and the Horton Treatment Centre in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Mr Williams said: "This investment in sorter waiting times for patients is one of the real benefits of the PCT being in a stable financial position, and we look forward to shortening the time patients wait even further, from 18 weeks to only eight weeks by 2011.

*A national survey has ranked GPs in Wiltshire among the top 20 per cent in the country.

A total of 581 patients completed questionnaires about their experiences at GP practices in the county, covering areas including making an appointment, cleanliness and the quality of the consultation.

The report, compiled by the Healthcare Commission, was released yesterday.