Hospital treatment 'quicker' (From Gazette Series)

Hospital treatment 'quicker'

PATIENTS are being treated more quickly in hospitals, accident and emergency departments and in GP surgeries than 12 months ago.

End-of-year figures from Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority show big improvements in access to local health services since the end of March, 2003.

Speeding up access to treatment is patients' number one concern and health authority figures at end March, 2004, show:

* No one was waiting more than four months for an outpatient appointment, compared with 1,363 a year before;

* Only one person waited more than nine months for inpatient or day case treatment, compared with 2,960 people;

* 92 percent of patients were seen within four hours in accident and emergency, compared with 90 percent;

* The number of patients given an appointment with a GP within two days was 97.2 percent, whilet 96.5 percent of patients saw a primary care health professional within one working day. In 2003 these figures were 89.4 percent and 94.1percent.

Christina Craig, director of performance, said: "We know that patients want faster services and treatment. The improvements we have made will make a real difference, but we have still much to do to continue to further reduce the number of people waiting."

The improvements in performance across Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire have been achieved within a tough financial climate.

Acting finance director Graham Bennett said: "The fact that we are treating people more quickly, whilst also meeting tough financial targets, is a testimony to many people across Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

"The year ahead will be tough but we are looking to ensure that more is invested to the benefit of patients."