Reducing Waiting Times Initiative

The 2004 NHS Improvement Plan set the goal that by 2008 no one in England would have to wait longer than 18 weeks from GP referral to hospital treatment. This applies to pathways that involve (or might involve) consultant led care and aims to ensure that all patients receive high quality elective care without any unnecessary delay.

Reducing waiting times is now government policy in England, Wales and Scotland. In England a ‘Standard’ has been set for a maximum wait of 18 weeks. As a result, the initial goal of 18 weeks wait by December 2008 is now subsumed within the wider quality agenda with a focus on continuous and sustained improvement in waiting times. Some regions have already developed local targets for shorter waiting. For example, in the South West, the local target is currently 13 weeks.

Similarly, Scotland is working towards a maximum waiting time of 18 weeks by December 2011 and Wales is aiming for a total waiting time of 26 weeks with effect from December 2009.

Whilst the Reducing Waiting Time Initiative is not government policy in Northern Ireland, the 2008/09 ‘Priority for Action’ target states that from April 2008, no patient should wait longer than 21 weeks for inpatient or day case treatment, reducing to 13 weeks by 31st March 2009.

Throughout the UK, reducing waiting enables faster access for patients to treatment and care.  For staff, it results in improvements to processes, systems and roles – creating a better flow of patients through the system. This eases congestion and has a positive effect on staff morale.

Sustaining reduced waiting times requires fundamental workforce transformation so the impact of the Reducing Waiting Time Initiatives on the NHS workforce is far reaching. To help address this, Skills for Health works with employers to help introduce New Ways of Working (NWW) and Nationally Transferable Roles (NTRs).