Almost half of patients ‘receive treatment within 18 weeks’

The government has published new statistics claiming that it is “on track” to achieve a system where all patients are treated within 18 weeks of their first referral by a GP.

Department of Health figures show that, at present, 48 per cent of patients receive treatment within this time, an increase on figures released last December showing a 35 per cent rate of treatment within this time.

Noting that the new means of measuring this waiting time includes all waits for outpatient appointments and diagnostic tests, the government restated its target is for all patients to be treated within 18 weeks by December 2008.

Andy Burnham, health minister, said: “These statistics show we still have a challenge ahead of us to meet the highest standards, but overall they are hugely encouraging.

“They will help the NHS deliver an even better service for patients.”

He added that the NHS was on course to meet its government-set target next year, the 60th anniversary of the health service, while the method now used to measure waiting times is the first to reflect the real experience of patients.

Last week, the department recorded a net surplus of over 500 million pounds in the health service for 2006-07, with the government claiming this figure represents the fiscal strength of the health service under a fair and transparent fiscal system.