Hospitals hitting target for shorter waiting lists

Figures reveal over half the borough’s patients are now waiting less than 18 weeks for their first course of treatment at hospital after being referred by their family doctor.

At the end of June, 55 per cent of all patients on Doncaster’s waiting lists had started their first course of treatment within 18 weeks of referral.

The NHS is expecting all patients to be seen within 18 weeks nationally by the end of next year, but Doncaster is trying to reach that target by the end of this year.

Jackie Pederson, Doncaster Primary Care Trust’s assistant director responsible for planned care services, said: “We are working together really well to ensure we hit the target by the end of December this year. As an early adopter of the 18 weeks initiative we are leading the way for other health communities to follow, and they in turn are watching us with interest.“

The trust has spent 4 million to cut waiting times, working with the borough’s main provider of hospital-based services, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages Doncaster Royal Infirmary and the Montagu Hospital, Mex-borough.