Page last updated: 27-NOV-2009

Waiting Times Programme

The aim of the Waiting Times Programme is to improve how waiting times for NHS Services in Scotland are defined, measured,  monitored and reported in order to support improvements in the management of waiting,  public information about waiting times  and patients' experience of waiting.

Programme Summary

The Waiting Times Programme was developed to

  • Enable monitoring of NHS performance against current national waiting times targets
  • Work with Scottish Government Health Directorate (SGHD) and NHSScotland to develop appropriate ways of monitoring NHS performance against national waiting time targets
  • Lead the development and implementation of "New ways of defining and measuring waiting times"
  • Provide leadership to ensure that the opportunities that arise from new information and technology are used to best advantage in decision making and management of waiting times by SGHD and NHS Scotland
  • Work with SGHD and NHS Scotland to develop methods to measure NHS performance against the 18 week Referral to Treatment (RtT) target
  • Help customers, the SGHD and the public to interpret information and use it appropriately and effectively to support decision making.
  • Encourage and support patient and public involvement in the development of waiting times information
  • Identify information gaps and develop appropriate solutions
  • Communicate effectively with external and internal stakeholders

Contact Details

Contact: Alan Finlayson, Programme Principal
Tel: +44 (0) 131 275 6271
Email: alan.finlayson@nhs.net

Contact: Kate Harley, Head of Programme
Tel: +44 (0) 131 275 6359
Email: kateharley@nhs.net

Enquiries: nss.isdwaitingtimes@nhs.net
Web: www.isdscotland.org/isd/3454.html

Steering Group/ Programme Board

  • Mike Lyon, Deputy Director Health Delivery - SGHD (Chair)
  • Jim Crombie, Director of Diagnostics - NHS Glasgow and Clyde
  • Jillian Evans, Head of Health Intelligence - NHS Grampian
  • Michael Fox, Head of Information - NHS Forth Valley
  • Alan Finlayson, Programme Principal - ISD Scotland
  • Mike Grieve, Director of Delivery - NHS Lothian
  • Kate Harley, Head of Programme - ISD Scotland
  • Robert Masterton, Medical Director - NHS Ayrshire and Arran
  • Isobel Neil, Programme Director for Cancer Access - SGHD
  • Nicki McNaney, Programme Director - SGHD
  • Robert Williams Health Delivery Directorate - SGHD