18 Week Legislation A Major Departure For Health Service

Main Category: Medical Practice Management
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 12 Nov 2009 - 4:00 PST

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Commenting on the announcement from Andy Burnham, enshrining maximum waiting times into law, Nigel Edwards, policy director at the NHS Confederation, which represents over 95 per cent of NHS organisations, said:

"It is a major departure for a government in this country to guarantee what patients can expect through legislation.

"NHS organisations have put a tremendous amount of effort into dramatically reducing waiting times and almost all patients are now seen within 18 weeks. Enshrining a minimum waiting time as a legal right will provide additional reassurance for patients.

"As with all new policies, it is vital to be wary of any unintended consequences - particularly around how meeting the target might affect other local health priorities for Primary Care Trusts - once it is put in place."

Source
The NHS Confederation