Saturday, January 06, 2007

NHS waiting lists are lowest ever

NHS waiting lists in England have fallen to an all-time low according to Department of Health figures.

Between October and November 2006, NHS inpatient waiting lists dropped by 8,000 to 769,000.

This meant the number of patients waiting for treatment was the lowest since the records began in 1987.

However, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb MP said the figures should be taken with a "strong note of caution".


He said: "The government's emphasis on bringing down waiting times above all else has pushed many hospitals into the red as they are forced to manipulate resources to meet strict targets.

"Patient care can also suffer as resources in some hospitals are diverted solely to meet waiting time targets."
IT IS NO WONDER THE LISTS HAVE BEEN CUT WHEN APPOINTMENTS ARE BEING CANCELLED AND G.P'S ARE NOT REFERRONG PATIENTS TO HOSPITALS -
MY OWN PRE ARRANGED APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED SO THE PROCESS TO GET REFERRED BEGINS AGAIN - YES ONE WAY OF MASSAGING FIGURES TO MAKE THE BOOKS LOOK GOOD BUT ON TOP OF THIS AND EMPLOYEE OF HINCHINGBROOKE HOSPITALS RELATIVE VISITED HER G.P AND WAS TOLD THAT SHE COULD NOT BE REFFERED TO HER LOCAL HOSPITAL - YET ANOTHER WAY TO CUT WAITING TIMES , NOT ALLOWING PATIENTS TO VISIT HOSPITALS, THIS ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SHA DENIED IN PUBLIC THAT G.P'S WERE BEING NOT DIRECTED AS TO NOT TO REFER TO HINCHINGBROOKE, CLEARLY THIS IS UNTRUE AND A DIRECTIVE HAS BEEN ISSUED BY ONE DEPARTMENT, BE IT DOH, SHE OR THE NEW PCT - BUT WHO WILL OWN UP TO IT?