Together we can call time on hospital waiting lists
What is ‘End waiting change lives’?
This is a campaign being run by the Department of Health to publicise the initiative to reduce waiting times for hospital patients. It is also sometimes referred to as ’18 Weeks’ because the target is to reduce waiting times from being referred by their GP to starting treatment to 18 weeks.
We know that having prompt access to NHS treatment and care is extremely important to patients. And that they expect the NHS care they receive to be of a high standard.
Over the last few years the NHS has been improving services for when urgent attention is needed, for example, treatment of heart disease and cancer.
The NHS is now improving waiting times for the treatment of routine conditions, such as hip replacement operations.
Waiting for treatment or an operation can be an anxious time for patients and with this in mind the NHS is now working to provide care and treatment promptly for routine or non-emergency care. Waiting times for the first outpatient appointment and for an operation are at an all-time low.
By December 2008, the longest patients will wait from being referred by their GP to starting their treatment will be 18 weeks. Wherever possible they will wait less than this.
Click on the links below for more about what we are doing to reach the 18 Week target.