Swine flu to kill health targets off

Published on Saturday 3 October 2009 11:15

HEALTH targets on waiting times and superbugs could be ditched as the NHS braces itself for a swine flu pandemic.

Senior NHS Lothian officials are expected to ask health secretary Nicola Sturgeon to temporarily postpone the targets when she visits on Monday.

The Evening News has learned that board members and managers feel that if extensive provisions have to be made in hospitals across the Lothians it will be impossible to meet the regular goals set by Holyrood.

Those include treating people at accident and emergency within four hours, and making sure cancer patients are seen within two months of diagnosis.

Ms Sturgeon will conduct NHS Lothian's annual review on Monday at the City Chambers, when officials are expected to request the reprieve.

A senior source within the organisation said: "It has to be done. If swine flu puts a considerable strain on resources then other things will have to move to the background. They will ask the cabinet minister when she comes to see them to forget about targets while they're dealing with swine flu. One way or another, that's going to have to be the case."

NHS Lothian currently reports to the Scottish Government on a range of waiting times targets.

But it is widely accepted that should grim predictions of huge staff absences and swathes of inpatients come true, priorities will change.

NHS Lothian board member Councillor Iain Whyte said any decision on targets would have to be made by Holyrood.

"It is certainly something that has to be considered if beds were taken up dealing with people who are suffering from swine flu," he said. "That's clearly going to have a knock-on effect on what is achievable. It would have to be done nationally rather than a board-by-board decision."

As well as her annual review visit Ms Sturgeon is expected to officially launch seasonal flu jabs, which health chiefs are saying is still essential, even if attention is diverted by the H1N1 virus.

NHS Lothian refused to officially comment.