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12/09/2003
Tories attack ‘appalling’ NHS waiting times
The latest Department of Health figures on waiting times have been slammed by the Conservative Party's Shadow Health Secretary, Dr Liam Fox.
The figures revealed that between April and June 2003 over 14,000 people in England had surgery cancelled at the last minute, and over 400,000 people waited over four hours to be seen in Accident and Emergency.
Commenting on the figures, Dr Fox said: “Labour’s complacency is breathtaking. How can the Government be so smug as to claim that these figures are a success? More patients had their operations cancelled in the first quarter of this year than in the first full year Labour were in office. By John Reid’s distorted reckoning, this is progress.
“Patients preparing for operations experience huge emotional pressure. Having them cancelled at the last minute because of the Government’s mismanagement of the NHS is deeply disturbing.
“John Reid brags that 90% of A&E patients are seen within four hours. How insulting can he get? Over 400,000 patents wait more than four hours. This is a disgrace.
"The Health Secretary can’t use statistical wizardly and redefinition to explain this away. Doesn’t he understand how much suffering these delays cause those patients, not to mention the dedicated staff doing their best to give those patients high quality care?
“Yet again, we see that the huge increases in taxation under Labour are doing nothing to improve the NHS.”
The figures produced by the Department of Health relate to NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts in England for the first quarter of this year.
(SP)
The figures revealed that between April and June 2003 over 14,000 people in England had surgery cancelled at the last minute, and over 400,000 people waited over four hours to be seen in Accident and Emergency.
Commenting on the figures, Dr Fox said: “Labour’s complacency is breathtaking. How can the Government be so smug as to claim that these figures are a success? More patients had their operations cancelled in the first quarter of this year than in the first full year Labour were in office. By John Reid’s distorted reckoning, this is progress.
“Patients preparing for operations experience huge emotional pressure. Having them cancelled at the last minute because of the Government’s mismanagement of the NHS is deeply disturbing.
“John Reid brags that 90% of A&E patients are seen within four hours. How insulting can he get? Over 400,000 patents wait more than four hours. This is a disgrace.
"The Health Secretary can’t use statistical wizardly and redefinition to explain this away. Doesn’t he understand how much suffering these delays cause those patients, not to mention the dedicated staff doing their best to give those patients high quality care?
“Yet again, we see that the huge increases in taxation under Labour are doing nothing to improve the NHS.”
The figures produced by the Department of Health relate to NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts in England for the first quarter of this year.
(SP)
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14 November 2011
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Patients prefer better care to faster treatment, report claims
Patients would prefer to wait for better hospital treatment, rather than go to a hospital with shorter waiting lists. A study, conducted by RAND Europe, the King’s Fund and City University, found that patients were more likely to choose to be treated at a hospital with a good reputation rather than one that has shorter waiting times.
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12 November 2004
NHS waiting lists fall to 17-year low
The total number of people on NHS waiting lists has fallen to its lowest level in 17 years, according to statistics published today. The department of health figures revealed that those on waiting lists dropped by 4,500 to 856,600 in September this year.
NHS waiting lists fall to 17-year low
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