100% OF LANARKSHIRE PATIENTS NOW SEEN WITHIN WAITING TIME TARGET

Linda Fabiani MSP has welcomed confirmation that every single patient in the NHS Lanarkshire area is now being seen within the maximum waiting time target set by the Scottish Government.

The latest waiting figures, for December 2009, show that 100% of Lanarkshire patients referred by their GP or dentist for either an inpatient or outpatient appointment receive that appointment within a maximum 12 week period. Almost 20,000 local patients were seen during the period.

Central Scotland MSP Ms Fabiani said:

“This is a good result for Lanarkshire patients. NHS Lanarkshire staff also worked hard to keep waiting times in A&E under four hours for over 98 per cent of patients during December, despite the extra pressures caused by the unprecedented cold snap.

“I congratulate all those in NHS Lanarkshire who have contributed to bringing waiting times down to these levels and ensuring that patients get the treatment they need as quickly as possible.

“The NHS in Lanarkshire is clearly on track to meet the Scottish Government’s target of an 18 week ‘whole journey’ referral-to-treatment wait by the end of 2011.

“That’s a tough task, but given their performance in recent months, I’m confident that NHS Lanarkshire is up to the task of delivering the shortest ever waiting times for local patients.”