Shorter health waiting times in sight

19 February 2007

By the end of next year patients will have to wait no longer than 18 weeks to start NHS treatment, Tony Blair has said.

The average wait will be between seven and eight weeks.

A decade ago patients would often wait up to 18 months for treatment from the time of their GP's referral. 

Mr Blair visited King's College Hospital in London this morning to highlight the progress being made in meeting the pledge, describing it as a "transformation" in the way health services will be delivered.

Together with Patricia Hewitt he saw a series of innovations that staff have introduced to cut waiting times.

These include extended day surgeries to help drastically cut waiting lists, a computerised blood sampling laboratory serving several hospitals, and a one-stop shop for scans and treatments in the pregnancy and gynaecology unit.

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Mr Blair told reporters:

"Of course there are always ways you can make the changes better, but if you imagine getting to this 18-week maximum - that is for the whole process from the time you see your GP and are diagnosed right through to the operation - that will be a real transformation within the health service.

"But it will only be done if we carry on the process of change... just like everything else in the 21st century, the NHS cannot carry on as if the world was still as it was decades ago.''

Next month a nationwide campaign will aim "to focus the activities of all NHS staff" on cutting waiting times.

It will also make clear that patients have a part to play too by making sure that they keep their appointments.

Thirteen "early achiever" health areas have already pledged to meet the 18-week target a year early.