Scots NHS waiting times less than 12 weeks

Published on Tuesday 26 May 2009 22:02

PATIENTS needing a hospital appointment in Scotland are now waiting less than 12 weeks, figures showed yesterday.

The statistics showed that 99.9 per cent of patients needing an outpatient appointment were not waiting longer than 12 weeks.

And 99.7 per cent of those needing inpatient care were waiting less than this time.

But a target for A&E waiting times is being missed, according to figures from ISD Scotland. Some 97.7 per cent of A&E patients were treated, admitted or discharged within four hours, compared with a target of 98 per cent.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said of the overall figures: "This is quite an astonishing performance by NHS Scotland."

But she said there is more to do and boards must direct efforts to reaching a "whole journey" target for 18 weeks from GP referral to treatment by the end of 2011.