Written Question · S2W-14623 · Session 2
Further to the answer to question S2W-9715 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 August 2004, how the figure of 29 days as a median waiting time for a …
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9715 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 August 2004, how the figure of 29 days as a median waiting time for a first out-patient neurology appointment in Lothian as at 31 March 2004 is consistent with the information contained in a letter from NHS Lothian to a constituent on 10 February 2005 which stated that he must wait approximately 68 weeks for an appointment at the surgical neurology out-patient department at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.
The answer
NHS Lothian has confirmed that the waiting time for a first “routine” surgical neurology/neurosurgical outpatient appointment at the Western General Hospital is approximately 68 weeks. The NHS board is taking action to tackle these unacceptably long waits, and expects to meet the Executive’s target of having no patient waiting more than 26 weeks by the end of 2005.
The earlier question (S2W-9715) related to first out-patient neurology appointments, which are handled at a different clinic by different clinical staff. Typically, patients would be referred to neurology clinics for investigation of disorders of the nervous system; patients would be referred to surgical neurology/neurosurgery for surgical intervention in relation to, for example, entrapped nerves.
If a patient was assessed by the referring clinician as requiring attention quickly, their referral to the relevant clinic would be marked “urgent” rather than “routine”. Waiting times for urgent referrals are much shorter.
The earlier question (S2W-9715) related to first out-patient neurology appointments, which are handled at a different clinic by different clinical staff. Typically, patients would be referred to neurology clinics for investigation of disorders of the nervous system; patients would be referred to surgical neurology/neurosurgery for surgical intervention in relation to, for example, entrapped nerves.
If a patient was assessed by the referring clinician as requiring attention quickly, their referral to the relevant clinic would be marked “urgent” rather than “routine”. Waiting times for urgent referrals are much shorter.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-14623 by reference.