New figures, made public for the first time today, show the scale of change within the local NHS that is benefiting local patients. Waiting times for hospital tests such as MRI scans have been published for patients in South Worcestershire, for the period January to April 2006. The figures show a 76 per cent fall in the number of patients referred by a GP but awaiting a diagnostic test for over 26 weeks, and a 66 per cent fall in those waiting for more than 13 weeks. Overall numbers waiting for tests have also fallen by 15 per cent.

The average wait for a non emergency patient is now around seven weeks.

These figures are important as they hold the key to the achievement of the Government’s ambitious target of guaranteeing patients a maximum wait of less than 18 weeks for hospital treatment by December 2008. Previous waiting times have always measured the time from the consultant agreeing treatment is needed to that patient being treated. The time from GP referral to consultant decision was never measured.

Commenting on this new information, Worcester MP Michael Foster said:

“These figures show how much has been done so far, but also the size of the challenge facing the NHS over the next two years. These so-called hidden waits have now been made public. These waits are getting less by the day. From December 2008, no one will wait more than 18 weeks from the moment a GP refers a patient till that patient is treated. It will effectively end waiting times for NHS treatment.”

“Part of the existing wait is for diagnostic tests, before a consultant can determine what treatment is needed. That is why reducing the wait for a test is so critical. It is the key to reaching our 18 week promise.”

“The figures for South Worcestershire show that as of April just 13 patients were waiting for more than 26 weeks, and 305 waiting for more than 13 weeks. The population of South Worcestershire is nearly 284,000.”

“At a health summit today, doctors and managers from across the NHS outlined their local plans to deliver on this ambitious target directly to the Prime Minister. We have set the target; it is important for the future of the NHS we achieve it. Then my constituents can get the short waiting times for treatment previously only available to those with money.”

Email me at fosterm@parliament.uk to comment on this story