Is Labour’s dream realistic?
The hub of the Labour party’s recently published manifesto on patient waiting times is that “Under the Tories, the maximum waiting time was over 18 months, under Labour it will be 18 weeks.”
Labour claim that by 2008 the 18-week pledge will cover the entire patient journey from the GP’s surgery to the hospital operating theatre, including diagnostic tests. The manifesto acknowledges the need for increased diagnostic capacity and says that, “Investment in and procurement of improved diagnostic services from both public and private providers are vital.”
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Patients will be offered greater choice in where, when and how they access diagnostic services. Where appropriate, GPs will also be able to refer patients directly to a diagnostic facility cutting out patient waiting times;
The manifesto continues: “The provision of additional diagnostic services under this procurement will bring English levels of provision more in line with international levels by bringing in new specialist staff to provide the services.
“We need additional capacity to be closer to where patients live. So we will develop diagnostic facilities in community settings with a strong primary care focus. This programme will bring additional benefits as they spread new ways of working, spur NHS providers to increase their responsiveness to patients and, as a result of increased contestability, drive down the level of inefficient spot purchasing.”
Click here for a copy of Waiting times, forward not back.
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