Patients to be told how long they will wait, vows Robison
PATIENTS facing delays to their surgery will be told how long they can expect to wait, Health Secretary Shona Robison said yesterday.
The maximum wait for routine operations is meant to be 12 weeks, under legislation introduced by the SNP in 2012.
But this pledge has been broken almost 120,000 times, with some people waiting many months for treatment.
Patients will now receive letters from health boards indicating how long they can expect to wait, MSPs were told.
Labour health spokesman Anas Sarwar said: ‘This is a real win for patients across the country. In 2012 the SNP made a promise to the people of Scotland that they would have a legal right to treatment within 12 weeks. That law has now been broken almost 120,000 times.
‘Patients deserve this transparency. Long and unknown waits can have a negative impact on a person’s work, family life, mental and physical well-being.
‘NHS boards should communicate an accurate expected waiting time to
‘Deep frustration and anger’
patients. The SNP has seen common sense – now it must deliver for patients.’
Miss Robison said the Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities would be amended to ensure that patients receive an accurate waiting time estimate.
At the moment, patients are told in health board letters that they have a legal right to treatment in 12 weeks. But some patients have waited up to 40 weeks for their in-patient or day case treatment.
Lib Dem health spokesman Alex ColeHamilton said: ‘We all have constituents who have been failed in this manner, characterised by pain and anxiety, which leads to deep frustration and anger.’
Miss Robison said: ‘More than nine out of ten patients are treated within the target. Clearly, engagement with patients is vital. Boards are working hard to deliver waiting time standards.
‘Boards are required to advise patients by letter that they are covered by the legal guarantee. We also expect that if they are experiencing difficulties they would advise the patient of the reason for the delay and an indication of the likely wait.’