NHS patients facing ‘phantom’ waiting lists

NHS BOSSES have threatened to impose “phantom” three-month minimum waiting times in order to save money in the hope that patients “get better over time”.

More than a million people could be affected by new rules forcing them to wait for routine procedures such as cataract operations and hip replacements even if practically they could be seen sooner. It means that under the proposals, which were last night branded “disgusting” by patient groups, some would end up waiting twice as long as they currently do.

Minimum waiting times were banned by the Government in 2011, which criticised them as prolonging unnecessary suffering.

But yesterday, a spokesman for four GP areas in Lincolnshire (East, West, South and South West) said the NHS “had a responsibility to ensure public money is spent efficiently”, adding: “There is evidence some conditions do get better over time and that, in some cases, surgery may be unnecessary.”

A further clinical commissioning group, Trafford, in Manchester, confirmed it was also considering introducing artificial waiting times.

National NHS leaders appeared to condone the move, raising fears the

practice will become more widespread. However, experts have questioned the legality of imposing minimum waiting times. The Royal College of Surgeons last night urged the Government to enforce the ban.

Sue Hill, its vice president, said: “Introducing an arbitrary minimum waiting time for surgery is unlikely to save money in the long term and is ethically wrong. Delaying surgery can mean a patient’s condition worsens, and can make surgery more difficult and less successful.”

Over the last 12 months, clinical commissioning groups have come under increasing criticism for the “back door rationing” of services on the basis of patients’ lifestyle, such as smoking or being obese, in order to save money.

Those who are referred for routine treatment are supposed to wait no longer than 18 weeks before being seen by a consultant.

However, in March, Simon Stevens, the NHS England chief executive, indicated the target to see 92 per cent of patients within this time frame would be relaxed. In some parts of the country, such as Trafford, the current average wait is only 7.2 weeks for any kind of treatment, significantly less than local bosses are proposing to artificially impose. David Hare, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents care providers and commissioners, said: “Artificially delaying treatment is a false economy given that a patient’s condition can deteriorate the longer they have to wait for care with costs potentially rising as a result.

“The Government needs to urgently clarify its position on this issue to ensure that no NHS patient is waiting longer than needed for their treatment.”

Patient Concern, which lobbies for better NHS treatment, said: “It’s just not the way that patients should be treated – it’s disgusting.”