howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
courtesy of the telegraph.
Health service trusts are "imposing pain and inconvenience" by making patients wait longer than necessary, in some cases as long as four months, the study found.
Executives believe the delays mean some people will remove themselves from lists "either by dying or by paying for their own treatment" claims the report, by an independent watchdog that advises the NHS.
The Co-operation and Competition Panel says the tactic is one of a number used by managers that "excessively constrain" patients' rights to choose where to be operated upon, and damage hospitals' ability to compete for planned surgery.
It claims unfair practices are "endemic" in some areas of England and pose a "serious risk" to the Government's drive to open up the health service to competition.
But managers, who are already rationing surgery for cataracts, hips, knees and tonsils, say they must restrict treatment as the NHS is under orders to make £20 billion of efficiency savings by 2015.
Lord Carter of Coles, chairman of the panel, said: "Commissioners have a difficult job in the current financial climate, but patients' rights are often being restricted without a valid and visible reason."
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: "It is outrageous that some primary care trusts are imposing minimum waiting times. The suggestion that it could save money because patients will remove themselves from the list by going private or dying is a callous and cynical manipulation of people's lives and should not be tolerated."
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
#2
Not a serious, but nevertheless a painful condition, my wife went to the William Harvey with a nasty ulcer on her cornea. The consultant treated her and said she wanted to see her again in 28 days. Sure enough, a letter arrived the following week giving an appointment within the time period.
Two weeks after that another letter arrived cancelling that and giving her another date - in December!
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
#3
In the commons Flashman time and time again states there are no waiting lists! What planet is he on?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#4
sorry to hear that but not surprised terry, i was due to have a colonoscopy within 14 days of seeing the consultant, it actually happened 4 months later.
at present i am waiting for a troublesome tooth to be pulled at the hospital, 3 months later still awaiting an appointment.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
#5
Planet never-never land Reg
Terry, thank goodness Maureen was seen and treated on that day and not be faced with a long waiting date for treatment. Nevertheless follow up appointments to check that all is well are crucial so to wait over three months is really unacceptable. She should see her GP and or the nurse at the GP surgery to check that all is going well.