Cameron's NHS waiting time pledge 'at risk'

By Phil Scullion

NHS waiting times are likely to rise in England, health chiefs have warned.

Mike Farrar, head of the NHS Confederation, said that there was even a risk that the 18-week hospital waiting time limit could be compromised.

This would spell bad news for David Cameron who made a personal pledge last month to keep waiting times below the target originally set by New Labour.

Mr Farrar, speaking ahead of the NHS Confederation's annual conference today in Manchester, said: "The 18-week wait is a constitutional right, and therefore we will be determined to do our utmost to protect that."

However he warned that the 18-week target was "at risk" saying that action needed to be taken "now".

Health secretary Andrew Lansley insisted that waiting times would remain low despite the changes to the NHS.

"Ultimately, our modernisation plans will safeguard the future of the NHS, improve care for patients, drive up quality and support doctors and nurses in providing the best possible care for their patients," he said.

A survey of senior NHS managers revealed that many were concerned it would get progressively harder for patients to access care over the next 12 months.

The latest monthly figures show that twice the number of trusts are in breach of the limit for inpatients compared to a year ago, raising the total to one-third.

"Managers need more support if we are going to deal with the difficulties ahead," Mr Farrar said.

Five out of ten NHS bosses surveyed said the current financial situation was the worst they had ever experienced; with nine out of ten agreeing it is very serious.

Shadow health secretary John Healey has hit out at the reforms.

He said: "This is further evidence of widespread anxiety in the health service, as financial pressures impact on patient care and we start to see the NHS going backwards again under
the Tories."

The news is the latest in a string of difficulties for beleaguered health secretary Andrew Lansley who has already seen sweeping changes and a government U-turn on his much-maligned NHS reforms package.