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