The tables below present information about the waiting list for NHS treatment as an inpatient or day case (the specialties of mental health and obstetrics are excluded).

The first table shows the number of patients on the waiting list, whether they were available or unavailable at month-end census dates, and the type of unavailability.

Under 'New Ways' if a patient is unavailable for treatment and unable to accept an offer of appointment then this is recorded.

If a patient informs the hospital that they will be unable to accept an appointment because, for example, they are on holiday for a fortnight, then this may be recorded as Social Unavailability.

If a patient is medically unable to undergo a procedure because for example, they have another medical issue such as raised blood pressure that makes treatment inadvisable then this should be recorded as Medical Unavailability.

Periods of social or medical unavailability of more than 7 days are deducted from the calculation of wait.

NHSSCOTLAND: AVAILABILITY OF PATIENTS ON WAITING LIST FOR INPATIENT OR DAY CASE ADMISSION

				Census date
Indicator				31-Mar-08		30-Apr-08		31-May-08		30-Jun-08
Number on list				62 733		63 285		65 582		67 359
Of which:	Available for treatment			55 231		55 165		56 695		57 525
	Unavailable for treatment			7 502		8 120		8 887		9 834
	Of which:	Social		4 854		5 324		6 021		6 857
		Medical		2 600		2 758		2 821		2 929

Source: Waiting Times Data Warehouse

Comparable information by NHS board of treatment is available below:

• Availability of patients on waiting list for inpatient or day case admission. Information for NHSScotland and NHS board of treatment (census dates 31 Mar 2008, 30 Apr 2008, 31 May 2008, 30 Jun 2008)

The table below shows various statistics relating to patients on a waiting list for inpatient or day case treatment. The indicators are described below the table.

NHSSCOTLAND:  INPATIENT AND DAY CASE WAITING LIST ACTIVITY

				Quarter ending
Indicator				31-Mar-08		30-Jun-08
Additions to list				112 126		118 991
Removals from list				112 227		115 817
Of which:	Attended			93 001		95 285
	Referred back to GP			2 579		3 410
	Transferred			3 019		3 425
	Treatment no longer required			9 318		9 367
Accepted appointments				108 648		116 360

Source: Waiting Times Data Warehouse

Comparable information by NHS board of treatment is available below:

• Inpatient and day case waiting list activity. Information for NHSScotland and NHS board of treatment (quarter ending 31 Mar 2008, 30 Jun 2008)

Notes:

Additions to list: This shows the number of patients who were added to a waiting list for inpatient or day case treatment during the quarter shown.

Removals from list: This shows the number of patients who were removed from a waiting list for inpatient or day case treatment during the quarter shown. The categories following this total are not exhaustive, therefore the sum of the categories does not equal the total number removed from list (Removal reasons 'Died' and 'Inappropriate referral' are not explicitly shown).

Attended: This is the number of patients who were admitted to hospital as an inpatient or day case and were therefore removed from the waiting list.

Referred back to GP: Under New Ways guidance, patients can be referred back to their GP for a number of reasons. These include: cancelling two previously accepted appointments; failing to attend an appointment without giving notice; failing to respond to an offer of appointment; refusing reasonable offers of appointments; continuing medical or social unavailability; or because the referral to hospital was inappropriate.

Transferred: These are patients whose management has been transferred from one waiting list and to another. This can mean, e.g. a change of specialty, location or health board. Unless these patients have been transferred outwith NHSScotland, they should also appear as an addition to the new waiting list.

Treatment no longer required: This is the number of patients who have been removed from the waiting list because they no longer require treatment.

Accepted appointments: This is the number of accepted offers for appointments in the specified quarter, regardless of when the offer was made.