Hospitals accused of target 'trickery' over waiting list figures

Growing concern among doctors has led the British Medical Association to protest about the difficulties encountered by patients in getting specialist care in some parts of the country.

By the end of 2008, the Government says no patient will have to wait more than 18 weeks from referral to the start of treatment, whether they are an inpatient or an outpatient.

Trusts are currently working towards meeting an interim target of 85 per cent of admitted patients and 90 per cent of outpatients to be seen within 18 weeks by March 2008.

But it is claimed that trusts are meeting the target by making patients wait to get on an official waiting list.

Where GP referrals would normally go direct to a hospital consultant, they are now diverted to a PCT management centre to make a decision about what happens next, it is alleged.

Patients who are referred to a specific consultant may be sent to another, or even told they do not need an appointment at all, while some who need surgery are sidetracked by being sent to physiotherapists for assessment first.

Some requests for hospital appointments are being 'bounced back' to GPs without action, while others are lost in the system.

Dr John Canning of the BMA's GPs Committee said targets were taking precedence over patients.

He said: 'It is massaging figures to appear that you have met targets when you are not meeting the needs of the population.'

A Department of Health spokesman said: 'NHS providers should accept all clinically appropriate referrals made to them. Patients choosing a particular NHS provider must be treated by that provider as long as this is clinically appropriate.'