Analysis: Waiting lists

Thousands are waiting for treatment

The government has met its manifesto promise to reduce the NHS waiting list by 100,000 from the figure inherited from the Conservatives. BBC Health Correspondent Richard Hannaford analyses their achievement.

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What is the signficance of the latest waiting list figures?

These latest figures are really only important politically in that the Government has finally fulfilled its election pledge.

While it was never really in doubt that it would, ministers will be relieved they can now finally say they have achieved (for the time being) the target.

The fact that the hospital inpatient figures have come down does mean more operations are taking place.

However, it does not measure the quality of care those patients recieve, nor whether those in the most need are getting the faster access to treatment.

Why did the government set the 100,000 target?

Before the election special, focus groups were consulted by the Labour Party over their concerns.

Those asked about health said they were worried about the waiting list.

Despite being warned by health experts not to go for a simple cut in numbers - and focus instead on waiting times - the Labour leadership felt it would be popular to make a bold statement and promise to cut the waiting list in simple number terms.

The figure 100,000 was agreed on because it was thought to be do-able, and would be good as a headline.

What has been the effect on the NHS?

Millions of pounds have been targeted on increasing the numbers of routine operations the NHS performs.

That has meant many Trusts see cutting the waiting list as a higher priority than improving services like maternity care.

There are also allegations that clinical priorities have been distorted - that patients with simple conditions are being seen before those with more complex problems because they can be dealt with faster.

But the political target has led to many hospitals examining how they do their work and coming up with improvements in the system.

What do health professionals make of the target?

Most health professionals do not support the target.

They say simply cutting 100,000 people off the English list is no way to measure the whole performance of the NHS.

It does not, for example, give any idea of the quality of care patients receive - and only concentrates on a narrow band of surgical interventions.

They also say that it really does not matter how many people are on the list - as long as no one has to wait too long.

However, the government says if you cut the numbers on the list, you automatcially speed up the service.

What has the government had to do to ensure the target was met?

The Government has had to invest many millions of pounds into the NHS to ensure the target was met.

It has also felt the need to threaten managers that they are jobs are on the line if they do not deliver.

Certainly, opposition MPs and many health professionals believe the money could have been better spent - but there is no clear consensus on what.

What will be the new priorities for the government on the NHS now?

Officially, the government is saying its priorities will not change.

It is aware that the figures could go up as well as down, so its concerned that the pressure to maintain the drop is kept up.

However, as minds turn to the next general election - and decisions on the manifesto are made - it is possible that a new set of priorities will be set out, more focused on cutting waiting times rather than cutting overall numbers.