Press release: Waiting times reduction not the only measure of success

25 May 2005

The Scottish NHS Confederation has welcomed today's announcement of a reduction in waiting times but urges critics and commentators to look to progress being made in other areas of the NHS to measure success.

Scottish NHS Confederation Director Hilary Robertson said:  "We welcome the statistics that have been published today which indicate that the 9 month waiting guarantee has been achieved across Scotland and considerable progress is being made towards achieving the 6 month target by the end of 2005.  NHS boards have been working hard to improve the situation and will continue to do so."

Ms Robertson continued:  "While a reduction in waiting times is an important factor in improving patient care, it is too often treated as the only benchmark in measuring the success of the NHS.  This is misleading.  90% of patient contact takes place within primary care settings, and a wide range of work to improve, modernise and expand community-based services is taking place.  Huge progress has been made in integrating health and social care services, streamlining the patient experience and providing access to a wider range of services and treatments at local level, so that fewer and fewer people have to go into hospital at all.  Improvements in these areas of care are just as vital to patients as waiting times for acute treatment, and they should be taken into account when judging the progress of the NHS."

Ends

 

Notes for editors

1. The Scottish NHS Confederation is an independent membership body representing Scotland's NHS boards and special health boards. We are committed to improving health policy and practice.

Contact details

For further information contact: Donald Crichton on 07775582123

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