Patients now treated within 18 weeks
03-Apr-2008
The North West London Hospitals NHS Trust has hit targets to ensure that patients using its three hospitals, Northwick Park, St Mark’s and Central Middlesex, are treated within 18 weeks from the point they are referred from their GP.
Director of Operations and Deputy Chief Executive Daniel Elkeles said: “This is a fantastic achievement and I am incredibly proud of our staff who really have pulled out all the stops to ensure we meet this new and very important target for our patients.
“It will make a huge difference to the lives of people who need hospital care and treatment – for us this is more than 300,000 patients a year.”
The 18 week wait captures the whole journey from referral to treatment –including all tests and outpatient consultations up to the start of treatment.
To achieve the target, the Trust, working with the local PCTs, put in a place a number of initiatives including weekend testing, moving some ultrasound services into the community and training GPs with special interests to carry out more patient care in the community.
Daniel added: “Making sure patients have quicker access to diagnostic tests was and continues to be a crucial step in helping us achieve this new target. The vast majority of patients now wait an average of two weeks for these tests.
“Finally, we would also like to take this opportunity to remind members of the public that can help us by remembering to keep their appointment or letting us know, in plenty of time, if they cannot make it.”
ENDS.
Note to editors
• By the end of March 2008, NHS Trusts were required to ensure that 85% of admitted patients and 90% of non-admitted patients are seen within 18 weeks. The Trust exceeded this target with 89% of admitted patients and 95.2% of non-admitted patients seen within 18 weeks.
Photo enc. Caption: Hitting the target – some members of the 18 week team at The North West London Hospitals NHS Trust. Left to right - Head of Performance and Information Peter Hyland; 18 Week Project Lead, Tina Benson; Scheduling Manager, Susan Tompkins; Theatre Matron, Rose Amankwaah; Theatre Sister, Liz Lallay;18 week Pathway Co-ordinator, Isabel Moon and Admission Scheduler, Debbie Elston.