Government's NHS waiting lists don't tell the whole story
November 13, 2004 9:00 AM
Government figures announced yesterday suggest NHS patient waiting lists in England have fallen to their lowest level for 17 years. Ministers praised the hard work of NHS staff but the Liberal Democrats have pointed out the lists did not show that waiting times overall had increased. No figures have been published for the overall waiting times of patients.
Paul Burstow, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health said "These figures do not show the whole truth. Claims that waiting lists are at a 17-year low will not ring true for those patients languishing on hidden waiting lists. Those waiting for tests and scans before they even get a diagnosis will greet this news with some scepticism. What matters to patients is how long they wait in total, from the time they visit their GP to the time they start their treatment. Ministers must publish the full waits as soon as possible if their claims are to carry any credibility."
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