Patients wait 'for over a year'

From 2008, patients will be seen within 18 weeks, ministers say

The true picture of waiting times in the NHS in England is emerging with one in eight hospital patients waiting for over a year, government figures show.

Waiting times to date have only started from the point of diagnosis rather than from when patients see their GP.

But ministers have promised to tackle this so-called hidden wait as part of their 18-week target for December 2008.

A poll of 200,000 patients in March showed nearly half were treated in 18 weeks, but some long waits remain.

Around two-thirds of the long waits are in specialities such as orthopaedics, ophthalmology, gynaecology and ear, nose and throat.

These figures demonstrate how far we have to go to catch up with most other developed countries Norman Lamb, of the Lib Dems

But the government has taken heart in the figures, which show 48% of patients needing non-emergency surgery were seen within 18 weeks.

The target - from GP referral to treatment - is widely regarded as the most-challenging NHS target set.

All patients are currently seen within six months, but that is just from the point of diagnosis.

Research by the Liberal Democrats has shown that for many patients the "hidden wait" can be just as long as the official wait.

'huge psychological step'

Health Minister Andy Burnham said the data was a "huge psychological step" for the NHS.

"For the first time we are putting before the patients and public data on the true experience."

Nigel Edwards, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, agreed the latest figures gave a much "clearer" picture.

He added: "There is optimism within the health service that the 18-week target will be met."

But Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "These figures demonstrate how far we have to go to catch up with most other developed countries.

"Behind the statistics, thousands of sick people are still waiting more than a year for hospital treatment. This is a daily tragedy."

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley added: "After 10 years of Labour claims that they have abolished long waits for treatment, only now do we have figures which show the reality for many patients."