Waiting lists at four year low, Minister claims
A junior Health Minister has welcomed Friday’s official waiting list figures.
Angela Smith said that inpatient and day care waiting lists are now at the lowest level since March 2000.
She said: “Today’s figures are another very welcome step in the right direction but I am fully committed to delivering further improvements.
“I have set targets for the year ahead which will ensure that no patient has to wait more than 18 months for treatment by March 2005, and no more than 15 months by March 2006,”
Highlighting positive aspects of the figures, she said: “I am delighted that waiting lists have fallen below 50,000 for the first time in four years, with 5,600 fewer people waiting for inpatient or day case treatment than at the same time last year.
“I am particularly pleased that the number of people who have been waiting more than 18 months has fallen by nearly half during the past year.”
