Rapid accurate diagnosis is key to delivery of the 18 week target. The Department has developed three clinically-led national programmes, in imaging, endoscopy and physiological measurement, to support the national health service in reducing waiting times for diagnostic tests including residents in Barnet primary care trust (PCT).
The Independent Sector London Diagnostics scheme, offering a range of diagnostic assessments, is also available to patients in the Barnet PCT area. Diagnostics available through the London Diagnostics scheme include magnetic resonance imaging, x-ray, ultrasound, echocardiography, echocardiography (screening), electrocardiogram, blood pressure monitoring, endoscopy and phlebotomy.
The following tables show the average (median) and longest waiting times and total admissions in the Barnet Primary Care Trust (PCT) area for the trauma and orthopaedic speciality (including hip replacements) the ophthalmology speciality (including cataract surgery), and the cardiothoracic speciality (including heart surgery) for 2006-07, 2007-08 to date and 1996-97, and waiting times and total activity for MRI and CT scans for 2006-07, 2007-08 to date. Figures for waiting times and activity for MRI and CT scans in 1997 is not available.
Statistics on average waiting times for cancer patients and average waiting times for different types of cancer treatment are not collected centrally. Cancer waiting times’ standards of a maximum wait of 31 days from diagnosis to first cancer treatment, and a maximum wait of 62 days from urgent referral for suspected cancer to first cancer treatment were introduced for all cancer patients from December 2005. In the last quarter (July to September 2007) national performance against these standards was 99.7 per cent. and 97.2 per cent. respectively. This information is not available by individual PCTs.
Today waiting times are at a record low; patients can expect a maximum 13 week wait for their first out-patient appointment and a maximum six month wait for an operation.
Latest data show that over half of admitted patients (patients who require admission to hospital for treatment) and over three quarters of non-admitted patients are treated within 18 weeks.
Month ending Area Median waiting time (weeks) Longest wait Total admissions 2007-08 September Barnet PCT 7.3 22-23 weeks 2,701 2006-07 March Barnet PCT 7.1 22-23 weeks 2,747 1996-97 March Barnet HA 18.0 18-20 months 1,825
Month ending Area Median waiting time (weeks) Longest wait Total admissions 2007-08 September Barnet PCT n/a 10-11 weeks 49 2006-07 March Barnet PCT n/a 8-9 weeks 162 1996-97 March Barnet HA 13.76 9-11 months 283
Month ending Area Median waiting time (weeks) Longest wait Total admissions 2007-08 September Barnet PCT 5 22-23 weeks 979 2006-07 March Barnet PCT 5.5 25-26 weeks 1,691 1996-97 March Barnet HA 14.32 12-14 months 1,484
Month ending Area Median waiting time (weeks) Longest wait Total activity 2007-08 October Barnet PCT 2.8 12-13 weeks 3,914 2006-07 March Barnet PCT 4.5 31-32 weeks 4,928
Month ending Area Median waiting time (weeks) Longest wait Total activity 2007-08 October Barnet PCT 2.4 12-13 weeks 5,394 2006-07 March Barnet PCT 3.2 11-12 weeks 8,011 Notes: 1. The data are reported as a snapshot at a point in time. For this purpose the latest available period within the financial year is used. 2. The figures for trauma and orthopaedics, cardiothoracic and ophthalmology specialities show the median waiting times for patients still waiting for admission at the end of the period stated. In-patient waiting times are measure from decision to admit by the consultant to admission to hospital. 3. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits. This should be taken into account when interpreting the data. 4. The parliamentary question states heart, hip and cataract operations. These are sub-sets of the cardiothoracic, trauma and orthopaedic and ophthalmology specialities respectively. 5. Data are not collected for the 1997 period for MRI and CT scan waiting times. 6. For the cardiothoracic speciality, when there is less than 50 waiters in the category, no median has been calculated as the small data set may lead to statistical inaccuracies. 7. Activity numbers are provided for MRI and CT scans, and admission data are provided for the trauma and orthopaedics, cardiothoracic and ophthalmology specialities. These terms both directly relate to the number of procedures undertaken.