Scottish Government
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New patient waiting time guarantee proposals
Patients should wait no more than 12 weeks for surgery after being referred to hospital, thanks to the Scottish Government's forthcoming Patient Rights Bill.
The guarantee will give patients awaiting inpatient or day case treatment increased assurance that treatment will be provided quickly, minimising waiting and anxiety for patients.
The initiative is one of a range of measures being brought forward by the Scottish Government as part of a consultation on the Patients Rights Bill.
Key proposals include:
- A 12 week legal waiting time guarantee for all patients waiting for operations - from when a patient is referred to hospital for surgery until the operation takes place
- Independent Patient Rights Officers for every NHS Health Board area
- Clearly defined systems of feedback and redress
- Responsibilities for patients - for example, attending agreed appointments and offering feedback on health services
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon launched the consultation at the Beatson Cancer Centre in Glasgow, where she discussed proposals with people from a range of patients groups.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"The Patients Rights Bill will be an important piece of healthcare legislation, with the power to change how we all interact with and benefit from the NHS.
"It will put patients firmly in the driving seat, giving them more say in how services are delivered and a straightforward system of redress, on the rare occasions when things go wrong.
"A central part of the Patients Rights Bill consultation is a proposed waiting time guarantee for operations.
"This will ensure that patients know what their maximum wait will be, providing assurances in what can be a time of anxiety, worry and stress for many patients.
"I want to see the Scottish people and NHS staff become real partners - co owners - of the health service so that they can shape a truly responsive National Health Service for the future.
This is a giant step towards achieving that."
Every household in Scotland will also receive an annual NHSScotland ownership report setting out information on the rights and responsibilities of patients and carers, access to local services and how to get involved in the design and delivery of local health services.
A Scottish Consumer Council spokesperson said:
"The Scottish Consumer Council welcomes the Scottish Government's consultation into the rights of Scottish patients.
"Before patients can make informed and considered decisions about their health they need to know what rights they have. Involving the public in developing a clear statement of their rights and responsibilities will put patients firmly at the centre of the health service in Scotland.
"The introduction of new rights, for example the 12 week waiting time guarantee, goes some way to ensuring that the NHS in Scotland continues to be a fair and equitable service. The Scottish Government's increased focus on health rights also gives the chance to strengthen awareness of existing rights and empower them to become more involved in decisions about their health.
"This consultation is an ideal opportunity to develop a dialogue between patients, healthcare professionals and policy makers. It will help us all move further towards a truly patient-focused and high quality health service."
The consultation runs from 22 September 2008 until 16 January 2009.
The Scottish Government proposals for a new waiting time guarantee sets out that once in-patient or day case treatment has been agreed as the most appropriate way forward between the clinician and the patient, we will guarantee that it takes place within a maximum time period of 12 weeks. This guarantee will operate within an overall referral to treatment patient journey of 18 weeks. This guarantee applies to all patients who require hospital in patient or day case treatment. This should be viewed as a 'longstop' guarantee. Our vision is that many patients will not wait for treatment and will be seen and treated well within the overall 18 week referral to treatment standard, by 2011.
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