NHS making “excellent progress” on key priorities

The NHS is making progress against key priorities and is continuing to show strong financial management, the Department of Health (DoH) has said.

A report published found the service’s performance in the second quarter of 2008 – June to September – found it met its 18-week commitment nationally five months early in August.

The figures also found a 57 per cent reduction in MRSA infections on the 03/04 baseline, with a fall of 18 per cent in cases of Clostridium difficile – 38 per cent since the same quarter in 2007.

David Flory, DoH’s director general of NHS finance, performance and operations, said: “This report confirms the excellent progress the NHS is continuing to make and its achievements in key priority areas. A strong financial position, backed by good progress on delivery, will continue to ensure high quality services for patients.”

He went on to say the service will have to make a contribution to greater efficiency in the current economic climate.

Last week, the DoH published statistics on NHS inpatient and outpatient waiting times, up to October 31st.

The figures found the number of people waiting over 13 weeks was 40,800, a decrease of 2,100 – 4.8 per cent – from the previous month.