New rules on NHS waiting lists

Written by Vincent Cable and published in Informer on Thu 7th Sep 2006

There are many good things about the Health Service and in some major respects it has improved in recent years: new hospitals, shorter waiting lists for emergencies and operations, better screening, well supported GPs. But this good work is in danger of being undermined by foolish decisions.

The latest I discovered when visiting one of our local hospitals, which is faced with large financial cuts because of budget pressures in London. I was told that in order to "manage demand" (NHS speak for cutting back services) hospitals will in future have minimum as well as maximum waiting lists.

Think about it. You need a hip replacement. The hospital has a bed and surgeons and staff. But it will not be allowed to operate unless you have waited a specified number of extra weeks. But if they wait too long they will be penalised too. Which minister or bureaucrat dreamt up this crazy nonsense I don't know but I am determined to find out?

This isn't the only absurdity. As the Informer reported last week, there are long and growing local waiting lists for physiotherapists; but there are now unemployed physios who can't get work anywhere. Doctors and dentists were given a hefty pay rise to keep them in the NHS but now young doctors and dentists can't get into the profession. A fortune is being spent on a new computer system which doesn't appear to work.

The underlying problem is that lots of money was spent, mostly on staff salaries, and the government is now trying to tighten up financially but with panicky, short-term cuts.

There is, as a consequence, growing disillusionment amongst patients and staff. Unless ministers and officials get a grip on the situation, the goodwill built up over half a century will be lost for good.