Monday, February 19, 2007

PM outlining '24/7 surgery' plans
"Round-the-clock" surgery could be introduced in England to help cut NHS waiting times to a maximum of 18 weeks, Tony Blair is to say.

He will suggest the idea of keeping operating theatres open "out of hours" during a visit to a London hospital.

The government wants the 18-week limit between GP referral and treatment to be met by the end of 2008 - 13 trusts are committing to hit it a year early.

The Tories said the target would distort priorities in the NHS.

'National campaign'

Next month a nationwide campaign will aim "to focus the activities of all NHS staff" on cutting waiting times.

Hospital bosses will also be encouraged to send more patients abroad and make greater use of the private sector.

Mr Blair hopes that with an extra push the average wait from referral by GP to treatment could be cut to seven or eight weeks.
Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb said in some areas it was primary care trusts (PCTs) not hospitals that needed attention.

"It makes sense to maximise the use of theatre space to treat patients as quickly as possible," he said.

"But the reality is that in many parts of the country PCTs deep in deficit are slowing down patient referrals to hospital, extending waiting times rather than reducing them."

The Conservatives said the waiting-time target would distort priorities in the health service and divert resources from where they are most needed.

WHERE IS THE FUNDING FOR THIS.................WHEN PCT'S ARE TRYING TO REDUCE HOSPITAL ACTIVITY DUE TO THEIR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THEN HOW CAN THE 18 WEEK TARGET BE MET?