22.03.12
Waiting times ‘manipulated’ by NHS Lothian
NHS Lothian has ‘manipulated’ waiting times to fit targets, an external review has revealed. Patients were marked as ‘unavailable’ if they did not travel at short notice for offered treatment, which let the organisation artificially reduce the number, in breach of statutory waiting time guarantees.
Scotland’s health secretary Nicola Sturgeon has expressed her shock and anger at the practice, and has ordered an investigation into NHS Lothian’s management culture, which may have put staff under pressure to find ‘tactical’ solutions to waiting times rather than tackle the root causes of the problem.
A specific and detailed audit will also be carried out into local waiting times management and process as part of each health board’s internal audit programme over 2012/13.
Sturgeon said: “My reaction to this report is one of disappointment and considerable anger. Waiting times guarantees matter. Patients value them and staff work hard to deliver them. I will not tolerate the manipulation of them.”
NHS Lothian’s chief executive, Professor James Barbour, said: “On behalf of NHS Lothian I would wish to apologise personally to any patients affected and assure them that these problems will not recur.
“We have already addressed many of the review’s key findings. Unacceptable practices were stopped forthwith last October.
“£4m has been invested this year to double our capacity to treat patients in key specialties. We have reaffirmed strict operational procedures for the proper management of waiting times.”
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