RCN Scotland comments on Audit Scotland waiting times report

Published: 21 February 2013

The systems used to manage waiting lists in our NHS are inadequate, used inconsistently and have incomplete information according to a report from Audit Scotland published today (Thursday, 21 February). The report, Management of patients on NHS waiting lists, reveals a system in dire need of a complete overhaul if public trust in waiting times statistics is to be restored.

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland Director Theresa Fyffe said:

“As the report says, the time patients wait for treatment is very important to them, so the public needs to have confidence in the systems used to record and manage waiting times. Equally, hard-wording staff need the tools to do a good job. Yet these same systems –as today’s report shows – are inadequate for the job and are letting patients down, time and again.  Targets are all very well and have contributed to reduced waiting times. This report, however, is a wake-up call to the Scottish Government to look again at the systems in place and whether health boards have enough staff and enough beds and resources to deliver waiting time targets.”

ENDS

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Notes to editors

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the world’s largest professional organisation and trade union for nursing staff, with members in the NHS, independent and voluntary sectors. RCN Scotland promotes patient and nursing interests by campaigning on issues that affect our members, shaping national health policies, representing members on practice and employment issues and providing members with learning and development opportunities.  With around 39,000 members in Scotland, we are the voice of nursing.

• The report, Management of patients on NHS waiting lists, is published on Thursday, 21 February 2013, available on the Audit Scotland website.