Question reference: S6W-09686
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 6 July 2022
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 July 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address long waits for planned care.
Answer
We know that long waits have grown as a result of the pandemic, which is why we now need to focus on treating people that are waiting too long for treatment. That is why I am announcing a new set of targets for NHS Scotland to address the backlog of planned care, including some of the most ambitious targets in the UK. The targets are to eliminate:
- two year waits for outpatients in most specialities by the end of August 2022
- 18 month waits for outpatients in most specialities by the end of December 2022
- one year waits for outpatients in most specialities by the end of March 2023
- two years waits for inpatient / daycases in most specialities by the end of September 2022
- 18 month waits for inpatient / daycases in most specialities by the end of September 2023
- one year waits for inpatient / daycases in most specialities by the end of September 2024
These targets are very ambitious and will require a strong focussed approach to successfully achieve them. However it is important to note that a small number of patients will be unable to have their procedure within these timeframes for personal or clinical reasons.
Patients will be offered appointments as local to them as possible but some may be offered alternatives outwith their local health board area to reduce waiting times, for example, the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital or at National Treatment Centres as they become operational over the next year.
The approach will build on the success of the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CFSD), which was established to drive innovation and introduce new ways of delivering care that will create additional capacity for inpatient, day case and outpatients.
The National Clinical Prioritisation Framework was also updated last month to provide flexibility in managing waiting lists, to ensure any patient waiting over two years is prioritised and treated, as well as those who require urgent clinical care.
Funding for the new drive will come from the £1 billion allocated for the NHS Recovery Plan.