'Phantom' three-month NHS waiting times branded 'unethical'

NHS bosses have threatened to impose “phantom” three-month minimum waiting times in order to save money in the hope that patients “get better over time”.

More than a million people could be affected by new rules forcing them to wait for routine procedures such as cataract operations and hip replacements even if  they practically could be seen sooner.

It means that under the proposals, which were last night branded “disgusting” by patient groups, some would end up waiting twice the length they currently do naturally.

Minimum waiting times were banned by the Government in 2011 which criticised them as prolonging unnecessary suffering.

But yesterday a spokesman for four GP areas in Lincolnshire (East, West, South and South West) said the NHS “had a responsibility to ensure public money is spent efficiently”, adding: “there is evidence that some conditions do get better over time and that, in some cases, surgery may be unnecessary”.

A further clinical commissioning group, Trafford, in Manchester, confirmed it was also considering introducing artificial waiting times.

National NHS leaders appeared to condone the move, raising fears the practice will become more widespread.

However, experts have questioned the legality of imposing minimum waiting times.

The Royal College of Surgeons last night urged the Government to enforce the ban.

It’s Vice President Sue Hill said: “introducing an arbitrary minimum waiting time for surgery is unlikely to save money in the long term and is ethically wrong.

“Delaying surgery can mean a patient’s condition worsens, and can make surgery more difficult and less successful.”

Over the last 12 months, clinical commissioning groups have come under increasing criticism for the “back door rationing” of services on the basis of patients’ lifestyle, such as smoking or being obese, in order to save money.

Those who are referred for routine treatment are supposed to wait no longer than 18 weeks before being seen by a consultant.

However, in March NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens indicated the target to see 92 per cent of patients within this time frame would be relaxed.

In some parts of the country, such as Trafford, the current average wait is only 7.2 weeks for any kind of treatment, significantly less than local bosses are proposing to artificially impose.

David Hare, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents care providers and commissioners, said: “The imposition of minimum waiting times not only subjects patients to unnecessary pain and discomfort but it sorely undermines patients’ ability to choose a care provider with the shortest waiting times, a right they have by law.

“Artificially delaying treatment is a false economy given that a patient’s condition can deteriorate the longer they have to wait for care with costs potentially rising as a result.

“The government needs to urgently clarify its position on this issue to ensure that no NHS patient is waiting longer than needed for their treatment.”

Banning minimum waiting was one of the signature early reforms of the then Health Secretary Andrew Lanlsey in 2011.

At the time, the Department of Health said the restrictions “limit patient choice”.

Last night, however, the Department indicated that clinical commissioning groups, which replaced primary care trusts, might legally escape the ban because they did not exist 2011.

Joyce Robins, Patient Concern

Patient Concern, which lobbies for better NHS treatment, described the proposed three-month waiting times as “phantom” and “life-spoiling”.

“Of course there are too few staff and too few resources, but it’s just not the way that patients should be treated - it’s disgusting,” said spokesperson Joyce Robins.

“Anything that causes pain is something that spoils your life.”

An NHS England spokesman said: “CCGs face difficult choices about what can be afforded within the funds Parliament has made available, recognising the priority being accorded to emergency care, mental health, cancer and GP services.

“Last month 1.3 million patients started consultant-led elective treatment, and the vast majority of patients wait less than 18 weeks."

A spokesman for the four East Midlands CCGs said the measures are not yet in place but are being considered.

“We remain committed to commissioning high quality safe care that is provided in the right place at the right time for all of our patients.”

The row broke out as NHS Improvement, which is supposed to safeguard standards in the health service, said the NHS faced an “extremely challenging” winter because hospitals were failing to transfer patients quickly enough out of acute beds.