NHS publishes waiting times figures

The NHS has published statistics detailing inpatient and outpatient waiting times to November 30th last year.

According to the figures, the number of patients who waited over the 26-week period for inpatient admission was 56.

The statistics also found the amount of people waiting over 13 weeks was 32,900 a fall of 7,900 (19.4 per cent) from October 2008.

It was noted the number of patients who were waiting for an outpatient appointment for more than eight weeks at the end of November 2008 was 39,000 – a decrease of 3,000 from October 2008, but a rise from the 8,600 reported in November 2007.

The figures also reported 235 people were waiting over 13 weeks for a first outpatient appointment following a referral, of which 46 were English residents waiting for such a meeting in a Welsh hospital.

Last week, the Department of Health said a nationwide ban on the use of mobile phones in hospitals should be lifted.

The organisation’s guidance noted staff and visitors should have the “widest possible use” of cellular devices, so long as they do not interfere with equipment, cause a nuisance or jeopardise the privacy of others.