Management OfWaiting Times

Question 1

What are the contributory causes to waiting times?

Answer 1

Excess demands with capacity constraint
High volume of non-urgent visits
Inadequate staffing
Hospital bed shortages

Question 2

What are the policies to manage waiting times?

Answer 2

Supply side policies: decrease waiting times through increasing resources/funding of hospitals
Demand side policies: guidelines to prioritise specific patients
Combined policies: waiting time guarantees with sanctions and alternative choices like private sector

Patients are guaranteed to be referred from GP in 18 weeks. Managerial sanctions for long waiting gimes

Question 3

What are the future challenges of waiting times?

Answer 3

Increased backlog of patients awaiting treatment
The original complaint is worse than upon initial referral and may lead to worse patient outcomes
Increased demand on staff and workload

Question 4

How are waiting times measured?

Answer 4

Average or median waiting time for those on the list
Size of waiting list
Time to clear waiting list
Proportion waiting longer than ‘x’ days

Question 5

What are the waiting time policies?

Answer 5

Supply side policies to increase productivity through activity-based financing by increasing health spending

Demand-side policies with guidelines to prioritise patients

Combined policies for waiting time guarantees, sanctions and choices/competition

Question 6

What are the successful implemented policies to tackle waiting times?

Answer 6

Strong managerial sanctions given for long waiting times

Patient entitlements for a maximum wait from GP referral time being 18 weeks