Everyone treated within 18 Weeks

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT pledge to ensure that no patient in the borough will wait longer than 18 weeks for treatment in line with targets set by the government.

It is hoped that the majority of patients will be treated more quickly than this, with the average person waiting just 9 weeks.

The government set a deadline of the end of 2008 but the PCT has put plans in place to substantially reduce waiting times in all services before the year is out.

By the end of March 2007 no one in Heywood, Middleton or Rochdale will wait more than 11 weeks for an outpatient appointment, 13 weeks for a diagnostic test and 20 weeks for an operation. The 18 week target aims to reduce waiting times so that every patient will be seen, assessed and treated where possible with an average wait of only 9 weeks by December 2008.

Historically waiting times have only measured the time it takes from diagnosis to treatment. But the 18 week target includes the length of time it takes from the GP referral to diagnosis as well – a process that has often taken months.

Melissa Laskey, Head of Strategy said: “We are working hard to achieve a healthcare system which delivers the right care to patients at the right time, in the right setting by the right healthcare professional – without patients having to wait for treatment.

“We will do this by providing more services for patients in the community, offering patients an alternative to a traditional outpatient appointment in hospital  – thereby freeing up hospitals to treat those patients with more complex and urgent needs.”

The PCT is developing community-based services in the following areas these are vital in helping to reduce patient waiting times:

• Musculoskeletal
• Ear Nose Throat
• Gynaecology
• Urology
• Ophthalmology 
• Dermatology 
• General Surgery

Currently 68% of out patients are seen and treated within 18 weeks and 30% of inpatients are seen and treated within the target.