Hospital Waiting Times/List Statistics
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON DATA DEFINITIONS. |
Question 1 -
Should endoscopies be recorded as day cases or outpatients? |
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The answer depends on the setting in which each procedure will take place. Critically, if the patient will
be admitted to hospital then he/she will be a day case. |
Question 2 -
Are both parts of a bilateral operation counted on the inpatient waiting list? |
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Where a patient requires a bilateral operation, for example for cataracts on both eyes,
he/she should be added to the elective waiting list for the first operation only. After
the first procedure, the patient may be added to the waiting list for the second operation.
If this is carried out within a clinically optimum time-scale, they should be classified as
'planned', if not, then they should be added to the active list. |
Question 3 -
Can patients be suspended when there is an equipment shortage in the hospital? |
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No. Where a shortage of any resource extends the waiting time the patient must remain
on the active waiting list. |
Question 4 -
Does the waiting time calculation end at the point of admission or treatment? |
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The patient is removed from the waiting list when they are admitted to hospital.
This has always been used as the end of the waiting time. |
Question 5 -
If a patient is admitted to hospital and the operation is then cancelled,
what happens to his/her waiting time? |
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As the answer to Question 4 makes clear, the reported waiting time always ends at the
point of admission. In this scenario the patient would be added to the waiting list
and the waiting time would be calculated from the original decision to admit date.
This will ensure that the hospital take account of the time the patient has already
waited when arranging an alternative treatment date. As Your Guide to the NHS makes clear,
such patients should be readmitted to hospital and treated within 28 days. |
Question 6 -
Is the overall waiting time significant? |
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Yes. Whilst the Korner waiting times calculation (i.e. reflecting periods of suspension
and referral) is important for evaluating the level service being provided to patients,
the total waiting time is important for hospitals to ensure that individual patients
receive treatment at the appropriate time. |
Question 7 -
Do we count patients with a TCI date as being on the waiting list? |
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All patients on the active waiting list, regardless of whether they have a
To Come In (TCI) date or not, should be included in the monthly/quarterly waiting
list returns. |
Question 8 -
Do we include private patients? |
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Private patients waiting for treatment in NHS facilities are included in waiting
list returns from providers (NHS Trusts & PCTs in a provider capacity) but excluded
from returns from commissioners (PCTs), which reflect patients from their responsible
populations only. Patients waiting for treatment at private facilities under an
agreement with an NHS Trust should also be counted in the return from the
NHS Trust. Similarly, patients waiting for treatment at private facilities
under an agreement with a Health Authority or PCG/T should be counted in the HA return. |
Question 9 -
Do patient treatment plans (PTPs) affect the way waiting lists and times are reported?
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No, patient treatment plans are irrelevant to whether a patient is counted
as part of the active waiting list and how the waiting time is recorded.
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Question 10 -
What constitutes a reasonable offer?
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- For a written appointment or admission offer to a patient to be deemed reasonable,
the patient is to be offered an appointment or admission date with a minimum
of three weeks notice.
- In addition to the 3 weeks notice, for a verbal appointment or admission offer to a patient to be deemed reasonable, the patient is to be offered:
- for inpatient admission - a minimum of two admission dates
- for an outpatient appointment - an appointment on a minimum of two different dates.
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Question 11 -
Can waiting times be reset if patients transfer between Trusts?
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It depends on the circumstances. If the transfer is agreed in advance between
the two Trusts (e.g. to speed up treatment, for continuity of care, etc)
then the waiting time should not be reset. If, however, a patient removes him
or herself from a Trust's waiting list and then is subsequently added to the list of
another Trust the waiting time should start from the decision to admit at the new provider.
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Question 12 -
If we are unsure about how to apply the correct definitions how can we get advice?
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Further advice can be obtained from the Data Standards Team or the Department
of Health (email mb-waiting-times@doh.gsi.gov.uk).
In the case of uncertainty Trusts should always follow the spirit of the rules
which is about reasonableness to patients and honesty to the public.
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Question 13 -
At what stage should patients who have had a private outpatient appointment
be added to the NHS inpatient list?
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Patients who have had a private outpatient appointment, but have elected
to have NHS inpatient treatment should be treated in the same way as patients who
have had a NHS consultation. ie. they should be added to the list without delay from the actual date of the clinical decision to admit.
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Question 14 -
Who holds the waiting list when a patient has been offered CHD Choice?
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There are a number of options when a patient is offered choice ranging across
the NHS and private sector.
- if the patient chooses private treatment, they remain on the original provider's list
(the trust is "commissioning" treatment from the private sector on a sub-contract basis)
- if the patient chooses to go overseas for treatment, they remain on the original
provider's list (the trust is "commissioning" treatment from the overseas provider
on a sub-contract basis)
- if the patient chooses NHS treatment at another NHS provider, they also remain on
the original provider's list (the trust is "commissioning" treatment from another NHS
trust on a sub-contract basis). Therefore, the trust providing the treatment on this
basis does not include the patient on their list
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Question 15 -
What if the patient moves from one commissioner area to another after
being offered CHD Choice? Do they become the responsibility of a new commissioner and provider?
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No. Unless an arrangement has been made prior to the patient moving, the responsible
commissioner and provider remains the same at the time that choice was offered.
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Question 16 -
What if a patient with CHD moves from one commissioner area
to another before they are eligible for choice?
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The patient becomes the responsibility of the new commissioner. However, the
clock is not reset - the new commissioner should offer choice after 6 months have
passed from the initial CHD diagnosis.
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Question 17 -
Can waiting times be reset when Trusts merge? |
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It depends on the circumstances. If patients are simply moved from their original trust to the
new merged trust then the waiting time should not be reset.
If, however, a patient removes him or herself from the newly merged Trust's waiting list and
then is subsequently added to the list of another Trust the waiting time should start from
the decision to admit at the new provider.
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Question 18 -
Where can I find Outpatient Attendances Data prior to 2005/06? |
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Outpatient Attendances Data prior to 2005/06 is published on the Hospital Activity website.
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Hospital Waiting Times/List Statistics