07 June 2007 - Publication of the march 2007 Northern Ireland waiting list statistics release

The Waiting List Statistics Release shows detailed information on the number of people waiting for inpatient treatment or a first outpatient appointment at hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Key facts and figures for NI waiting lists at end of March 2007

Inpatient Waiting List

Overall

• The total number of patients waiting for treatment at the end of March 2007 was 37,978.
• This total has decreased by 2,274 (-5.6 %) compared with the previous quarter (end of December 2006) and has decreased by 3,470 (-8.4 %) over the year (compared with the end of March 2006).

Patients waiting 6 months and over

• At the end of March 2007, there was one patient waiting 6 months and over for Inpatient treatment.
• The number of patients waiting 6 months and over has decreased by 2,551, an almost 100% decrease when compared with the previous quarter (end of December 2006) and has decreased by 6,579 over the year (compared with the end of March 2006).

Completed Inpatient Waits (including those who failed to attend or who were deferred)

• A total of 48,006 inpatients were admitted to hospital during the March 2007 quarter. This figure includes all activity commissioned by the Health Service in HSS hospitals and also includes inpatient activity, commissioned by the Health Service, that is undertaken by the independent sector at locations other than HSS Hospitals

Outpatient Waiting List

Overall

• The total number of people waiting for a first outpatient appointment at the end of March 2007 was 102,491.
• This total has decreased by 52,116 (-33.7 %) compared with figures for the previous quarter (end of December 2006) and has decreased by 78,495 (-43.4%) over the year (compared with the March 2006 quarter).

Patients waiting 6 months and over

• The number of patients waiting 6 months and over for a first outpatient appointment stood at 32 at the end of March 2007, <0.1 % of the total number waiting.
• The number of patients waiting 6 months and over has decreased by 43,833 (-99.9%) compared with the previous quarter (end of December 2006) and has decreased by 73,883, an almost 100% decrease, over the year (compared with the end of March 2006).

Completed Outpatient Waits for a First Appointment (including those who failed to attend or who were deferred)

• A total of 146,733 patients attended a first outpatient appointment during the March 2007 quarter. This figure includes all activity commissioned by the Health Service in HSS hospitals and also includes outpatient activity, commissioned by the Health Service, that is undertaken by the independent sector at locations other than HSS hospitals.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. All publications are available on line at:

http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/stats-hospital_community_statistics#waiting

2. About the data

· The sources for the data contained in this release are the Charter Monitoring Returns CH1, CH2, CH3 and CH4. These returns collect information from Hospital Trusts on a quarterly basis.

• Figures include all privately funded patients waiting for treatment in Health Service hospitals and those patients who are resident outside Northern Ireland.
• Data include some estimates and incorporate all returns and amendments received from HSS Trusts and Boards up to 24 May 2007.

3. Inpatient definitions

• Ordinary admissions include both (a) patients admitted electively with the expectation that they will remain in hospital for at least one night, and (b) non-elective admissions (e.g. emergency admissions). A patient who is admitted with either of the above intentions, but who leaves hospital for any reason without staying overnight, is still counted as an ordinary admission. Day cases are not included.
• Day Cases are patients admitted electively during the course of a day with the intention of receiving care who do not require the use of a hospital bed overnight and who return home as scheduled. If this original intention is not fulfilled and the patient stays overnight, such a patient is counted as an ordinary admission.
• The waiting list inpatient figures presented include people waiting to be admitted as inpatients either as day cases or ordinary admissions. They do not include:
• Patients admitted as emergency cases;
• Outpatients;
• Patients undergoing a planned programme of treatment e.g. a series of admissions for chemotherapy;
• Maternity (specialties 510 and 520);
• Patients already in hospitals but included on other waiting lists;
• Patients who are temporarily suspended from waiting lists.

4. Outpatient definitions

• An outpatient appointment is to enable a patient to see a consultant or member of his firm.
• The waiting list figures include all outpatients who have not had their first appointments by the end of the quarter.
• Outpatient waiting list figures presented do not include maternity specialties 510 (Obstetrics (Ante Natal)) and 520 (Obstetrics (Post Natal)).

5. This information was collated by Hospital Information Branch, DHSSPS.

Further information is available from:

6. Media queries to DHSSPS Information Office on 028 90 520571.