Govt scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double
The number of patients waiting months for tests to detect cancer and other killer diseases has almost doubled since NHS waiting targets were scrapped, according to the Government’s own figures.
Latest data show more than 5,700 people waiting in excess of six weeks for MRI scans, ultrasounds and other tests. Cancer charities and patients’ groups said they were “shocked and alarmed” at the rapid increase in the numbers being forced to wait before they are even diagnosed.
Until they were scrapped in July, the waiting targets had stipulated that treatment for any disease should start within 18 weeks of a patient seeing their GP. This put pressure on hospitals to carry out tests quickly, so that patients could be diagnosed and booked in for surgery or other treatment.
Last night John Healey, the shadow health secretary, accused the Government of “putting both patients and the NHS at risk”.
---------------------------
| Tweet |
16 Comments || Add yours below
Reader comments
As a headline, quite worrying – but as the funding hasn’t been reduced, we have to ask why hospitals are choosing to wait longer before performing some of the tests.
Is carrying out the tests – which were generally driven by political requirements for good headlines – within a specifically time limit really as important as the politicians/public think?
If doctors are themselves re-prioritising their spending to other areas, it suggests that they are less convinced of the value of speedy tests for some headline illnesses and feel that other areas have a higher medical impact.
I’m guessing there is less of an onus on fudging the numbers. My Doctor friends tell me there were all sorts of ways they used to get around the 18 week limit.
Only way to tell the true effect is if cancer survival rates start to go up. The sad thing is that if the government is wrong it means people will have lost their lives needlessly – on the other hand if they are right then it would mean the targets were needlessly killing people. No-one said it was easy being the Health Secretary.
Reactions: Twitter, blogs
- Liberal Conspiracy
Coalition scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double http://bit.ly/aEa6Np
- sheppeyescapee
RT @libcon: Coalition scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double http://bit.ly/aEa6Np
- Els Freshwater
RT @libcon: Coalition scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double http://bit.ly/aEa6Np
- Mike Green
RT @libcon: Coalition scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double http://bit.ly/aEa6Np —> I'm sure that Clegg would say this was only fair!
- Elly M
RT @libcon: Coalition scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double http://bit.ly/aEa6Np
- Melissa Nicole Harry
RT @libcon: Coalition scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double http://bit.ly/aEa6Np
- catherine buca
RT @libcon: Coalition scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double http://bit.ly/aEa6Np
- Hayrr X
RT @libcon Coalition scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double http://bit.ly/aEa6Np #toryscum #libdemscum
- Tom King
RT @libcon: Coalition scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double http://bit.ly/aEa6Np
- Jack Stone
Govt scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/iHg3MpX
- SMS PolicyWatch
RT @libcon: Coalition scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double http://bit.ly/aEa6Np
- rWorld2 » Blog Archive » Govt scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double via Liberal Conspiracy
[...] Posted by george on October 25th, 2010 via liberalconspiracy.org [...]
- Pucci Dellanno
RT @libcon: Coalition scraps NHS targets, waiting lists double http://bit.ly/aEa6Np
You can read articles through the front page, via Twitter or RSS feed. You can also get them by email and through our Facebook group.
» Workfare – what does the evidence show?
» The real agenda behind Telegraph’s abortion investigation
» How Scotland Yard monitors prying bloggers and journalists
» When disabled people want to work – employers can hold the back
» Revealed: the reality behind Workfare and why it doesn’t work
» Job snob? No, I’ve got the T-shirt
» Why country-by-country reporting matters to our wellbeing
» If Unions want to become stronger, they need to modernise
» Why work “reforms” in Spain are a warning for workers across Europe
» Five things you need to know about the NHS bill
» Bigger. Fatter. Gypsier. More Racist.
|
62 Comments 15 Comments 23 Comments 10 Comments 24 Comments 19 Comments 17 Comments 83 Comments 204 Comments 85 Comments |
 |
LATEST COMMENTS » Cylux posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation » Spike1138 posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation » Watchman posted on Ten weeks to London's election: where Ken needs to improve » Bob B posted on Workfare - what does the evidence show? » Spike1138 posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation » supermarketsweep posted on Job snob? No, I've got the T-shirt » TimJ posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation » cjcjc posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation » Chaise Guevara posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation » TimJ posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation » cjcjc posted on Ten weeks to London's election: where Ken needs to improve » Planeshift posted on Workfare - what does the evidence show? » Spike1138 posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation » pagar posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation » TimJ posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation |
