Questions asked to cut waiting times for County Hospital bed

3:38pm Thursday 13th November 2008

UP to 1,500 people are being quizzed about their experiences in being referred for treatment to Hereford County Hospital.

Question forms will be going out from Monday and patients who receive them are being urged not to bin them but return them immediately in the stamped envelopes provided.

The sample survey, ordered by the regional Strategic Health Authority, is linked to the time people have to wait to get a hospital bed and how the process can be speeded up.

Nationally, the NHS set a target that 90% of people needing admission to hospital and 95% of those not needing admission should start their treatment within 18 weeks of referral by their GP.

It is claimed that this commitment has been met five months ahead of the December deadline and, at the County Hospital, it is reported that nine out of 10 patients are seen within 18 weeks. The aim now is to raise this to 100%.

The local survey is being carried out by Herefordshire Primary Care Trust and, when completed, will be analysed independently by MORI.

The results are expected by next March when trusts will be expected to include them in local plans to improve the 18 week access times.

Paul Edwards, director of commissioning and strategy at the PCT, hopes people will fill in the survey forms and return them by Friday, December 19.

“In Herefordshire we are already achieving the DoH targets for 18 weeks but this information will help us to know which areas we need to focus on more to further improve waiting times,” he said.

But Mr Edwards asked people to help by keeping their appointments or letting the hospital or clinic know as soon as possible if they could not attend.

And he warned that patients who cancelled twice, or did not attend their appointment, could be referred back to their GP.