Waiting times longer in south

Waiting times vary around the country

The Department of Health has admitted that hospital waiting times are much longer in the south-east of England.

A study by the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) found that patients in the south of England are not benefiting from the reduction in surgery waiting times that has occurred in other parts of the country.

There are huge variations around the country

Mike Stone

The study, published by The Times newspaper, found that the gap between the best and worst regions in England for most types of surgery is six-and-a-half weeks.

Growing waiting times in the south east were blamed on high demand and a lack of NHS staff.

The report says the problem has been exacerbated by "bed blocking". This is when elderly patients are kept in hospital for longer than is medically necessary because there are no suitable facilities available for them in the community.

Bed blocking was found to be a particular problem in orthopaedic units.

Analysis

Staff shortages have been blamed

The CEBR, an independent think tank, analysed figures for the first half of the year.

It found that the average waiting time from seeing a GP to having an operation varied widely across the country.

In the South East it was 217 days, compared to 182 days in the Northern and Yorkshire region, and 180 days in the Trent region.

In London the figure was 207 days, in the Eastern region 206 days and in the North West 193 days.

The average wait has risen by 1.6 days over the last year in the south east.

In the same period the average wait fell by 8.7 days in Trent and the North West.

The biggest variation in waiting times was for ear, nose and throat surgery, with patients in London waiting eight and a half weeks than those in the Trent region.

Mike Stone, chief executive of the Patients Association, said the research suggested the NHS was not providing a uniform service throughout the country.

"We may live in a country with a National Health Service which by its name implies that whether you live in Trent or whether you live in the South East you will be getting the same standard of treatment within the same amount of time."

"But clearly this is not happening. There are huge variations around the country."

Clara Mackay, principal policy adviser for the Consumers' Association, said: "Our recent survey showed that 40% would consider taking private treatment to avoid long waits.

"If there are significant regional differences in waits this must be dealt with to ensure that people are not being unnecessarily driven to consider private care - whether they can afford it or not."

Inaccuracies

A Department of Health spokesman said the figures were "riddled with inaccuracies".

They are entirely guesswork, speculative and based on unsound mathematics

Department of Health

He said: "They are entirely guesswork, speculative and based on unsound mathematics designed to promote the private healthcare system.

"For example they assume every patient who sees a GP and is referred to hospital has an operation. In fact less than half do.

"Suggesting that the south-east is worst hit for waiting times is nothing new. We publish our waiting list statistics every month, region by region.

"They confirm this trend which is why we target investment to those place which need it most."

The spokesman also said that staffing levels in the south east had improved.

The CEBR research was sponsored by Health Care Navigator, a company that links people seeking private treatment with healthcare companies.