Longer wait for NHS patients

2:42pm Thursday 15th March 2007

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PATIENTS will have to wait up to five months for surgery to save NHS cash, a leaked letter has revealed.

The current average waiting time is eight weeks but hospitals are being told to treat fewer patients to avoid overspending their budgets.

A document from the East of England Strategic Health Authority, leaked to MP John Baron, tells how primary care trusts are told to ensure surgery is "limited" to urgent patients or those who have waited 20 weeks.

The Billericay and district MP said it meant efficient hospitals, currently hitting targets, would be penalised and forced to limit the numbers of operations they carry out.

He said: "Local patients are being deliberately obstructed in accessing the treatment they need.

"South West Essex PCT has been ordered to transfer £3.5million to the health authority so it can be given to other trusts in the region with deficits. However, it is struggling to find all the cash. Why should our PCT be made to make cutbacks because other PCTs are in deficit?"

A health authority spokesman said: "It is essential the drive to improve waiting times for patients is balanced with the financial pressures.

"Trusts have been asked to put in place systems to ensure patients needing planned treatment are seen in turn on the waiting list.

"At the moment this should be a maximum of 20 weeks from GP referral to first out-patient appointment.

"Any clinically urgent cases are not affected by this system, but are as usual treated as quickly as possible."

A PCT spokesman said: "We have no plans to cut frontline patient services and are looking ahead to the new financial year when there will be significant investment in patient care."

l Has your op been postponed? Call Jon Austin on 01268 469304 or e-mail jon.austin@nqe.com