Waiting lists and cancelled operations make sorry reading for patients
August 30, 2005 6:00 PM
Thousands of patients are stuck on hidden waiting lists hanging on for months, or even years, before they get a diagnosis and get on the official list. The Liberal Democrats have said "The Government has an awfully long way to go before waiting times are at acceptable levels." In the first quarter of the financial year starting in April 15,648 patients had their operations cancelled at short notice. This is a 6.6% increase on the same quarter in the previous year.
Professor Steve Webb, Lib Dem Shadow Health Secretary, said "Cancelled operations have shot up by 30% since Labour came to power. It is very distressing for a patient to get ready for their operation only to have it cancelled on the day. Many patients have their operations cancelled the night before they have to go into hospital, but these cases are not recorded. An urgent investigation is needed to find out whether these figures are only the tip of the iceberg."
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