The Waiting List Statistics Release shows detailed information on the number of people waiting for inpatient treatment, a first outpatient appointment, or a diagnostic test at hospitals in Northern Ireland.
Key facts and figures for NI Waiting Times at end of June 2008
Waiting Times for Inpatient Admission
Overall
- The total number of patients waiting for treatment at the end of June 2008 was 36,273.
- This total has decreased by 721 (-1.9 %) compared with the previous quarter (end of March 2008), and increased by 379 (+1.1%) compared with the same quarter, previous year (end of June 2007).
Patients waiting over 13 weeks
- At the end of June 2008, there were 4,713 (13.0%) patients waiting more than 13 weeks for Inpatient treatment, of which 55 (1.2%) were waiting more than 21 weeks, with two of these waiting over 26 weeks.
Completed Inpatient Waits (including those who failed to attend or who were deferred)
- A total of 50,577 inpatients were admitted to hospital during the June 2008 quarter. This figure includes all activity commissioned by the Health Service in Health and Social Care hospitals and also includes inpatient activity, commissioned by the Health Service, which is undertaken by the independent sector at locations other than Health and Social Care hospitals.
Waiting Times for a First Outpatient Appointment
Overall
- The total number of people waiting for a first outpatient appointment at the end of June 2008 was 78,791.
- This represented an increase of 5,834 (+8.0%) on the previous quarter (end of March 2008) and a decrease of 15,767 (-16.7%) over the year (compared with the June 2007 quarter).
Patients waiting over nine weeks
- At the end of June 2008, there were 8,424 (10.7%) patients waiting more than nine weeks for a first outpatient appointment, of which 136 (1.6%) were waiting more than 13 weeks.
Completed Outpatient Waits for a First Appointment (including those who failed to attend or who were deferred)
- A total of 121,487 patients attended a first outpatient appointment during the June 2008 quarter. This figure includes all activity commissioned by the Health Service in Health and Social Care hospitals and also includes outpatient activity, commissioned by the Health Service, which is undertaken by the independent sector at locations other than Health and Social Care hospitals.
Waiting Times for a Diagnostic Service
- The 2008/09 Ministerial target relating to diagnostic services states that from April 2008 no patient should wait longer than 13 weeks for one of the selected diagnostic tests (21 weeks for a day case endoscopy) reducing to nine weeks (13 weeks for a day case endoscopy) by 31 March 2009. The 16 selected diagnostic services are Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Computerised Tomography; Non-Obstetric Ultrasound; Barium Studies; DEXA Scan; Radio Nuclide Imaging; Pure Tone Audiometry; Echocardiography; Perfusion Studies; Peripheral Neurophysiology; Sleep Studies; Urodynamics Pressures & Flows; Colonoscopy; Cystoscopy; Flexi Sigmoidoscopy and Gastroscopy.
Overall
- The total number of patients waiting at the end of June 2008 for the 16 selected diagnostic services was 30,751, a decrease of 557 (-1.8%) on the position at 31 March 2008.
Patients waiting over 9 weeks
- At the end of June 2008, there were 1,454 patients waiting more than 9 weeks for the selected diagnostic services, with no patients waiting more than 13 weeks.
Patients waiting over 13 weeks for day case endoscopies
- At the end of June 2008, there were 1,209 patients waiting more than 13 weeks for a day case endoscopy, with one patient waiting more than 21 weeks.
Notes to Editors:
1. All publications are available on line at: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-activity_stats-2/waiting_times.htm
2.About the data
- The sources for the data contained in this release are the DHSSPS Inpatient Waiting Times Dataset, Departmental Information Returns CH2, CH3, CH4 and SDR1. 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 HSC Trusts up to 22 August 2008.
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 their 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. Diagnostic Service definitions
- A diagnostic service provides an examination, test or procedure used to identify a person’s disease or condition and which allows a medical diagnosis to be made.
- The diagnostic waiting list figures presented include people waiting for a test with a diagnostic element including tests that are part diagnostic and subsequently part therapeutic. They do not include:
- Patients currently admitted to a hospital bed and waiting for a emergency procedure;
- Purely therapeutic procedures. A therapeutic procedure is defined as a procedure which involves actual treatment of a person’s disease, condition or injury.
- Patients undergoing a planned programme of tests.
- Patients waiting for procedures as part of a screening programme.
6. This information was collated by Hospital Information Branch, DHSSPS.
Further information is available from:
Hospital Information Branch,
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety,
Annex 2, Castle Buildings,
Stormont, BT4 3SQ
Telephone: 02890 522800
E-mail: Statistics@dhsspsni.gov.uk
Internet: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-activity_stats-2.htm
7. Media queries to DHSSPS Information Office on 02890 520074, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
