The table below presents a breakdown of different aspects of the time spent on waiting lists by patients covered by the national waiting times standard set by the Scottish Government. That is, Scottish residents seen for a new NHS appointment at a consultant-led outpatient clinic following referral from their GP or dentist (GDP). In addition to mental health and obstetrics, this section also excludes patients waiting for a homeopathy appointment. The indicators are described below the table.

NHSSCOTLAND: EPISODE LENGTH FOR NEW OUTPATIENT APPOINTMENT
PATIENTS REFERRED BY A GP OR GDP

COMPLETED WAITS FOR PATIENTS SEEN

			Quarter ending
Indicator			31-Mar-08		30-Jun-08		30-Sep-08
Number seen			200 675		215 918		220 948
Distribution of episode length:
	Median (days)		49		48		55
	90th percentile (days)		118		113		117
	<=3 weeks (%)		24.5		24.3		21.8
	3-6 weeks (%)		20.1		21.7		19.0
	6-9 weeks (%)		14.6		16.2		15.7
	9-12 weeks (%)		10.7		12.8		13.4
	12-15 weeks (%)		11.9		10.9		13.9
	15-18 weeks (%)		14.3		11.0		12.7
	Over 18 weeks (%)		3.9		3.1		3.5
Distribution of wait:
	Median (days)		43		42		49
	90th percentile (days)		112		107		110
	<=3 weeks (%)		27.7		26.6		24.0
	3-6 weeks (%)		22.2		23.5		21.2
	6-9 weeks (%)		14.8		16.5		16.4
	9-12 weeks (%)		10.1		12.2		13.0
	12-15 weeks (%)		11.2		10.3		13.2
	15-18 weeks (%)		13.5		10.4		11.8
	Over 18 weeks (%)		0.6		0.4		0.3
Distribution of patient related delay:
	Median (days)		0		0		0
	90th percentile (days)		5		0		10.0
	0 weeks (no delay) (%)		89.6		90.2		88.6
	<=3 weeks (%)		2.9		3.3		4.1
	3-6 weeks (%)		2.0		2.1		2.3
	6-9 weeks (%)		1.3		1.3		1.5
	9-12 weeks (%)		1.0		0.9		1.2
	12-15 weeks (%)		1.0		0.9		1.1
	15-18 weeks (%)		1.0		0.7		0.8
	Over 18 weeks (%)		1.2		0.6		0.5

Source: Waiting Times DataWarehouse

Comparable information by NHS board of treatment is available below:

• Episode length for new outpatient appointment; completed waits for patients seen. Information for NHSScotland and NHS board of treatment (quarter ending 31 Mar 2008, 30 Jun 2008, 30 Sep 2008)

Notes:

Number seen: This is the number of patients removed from the waiting list because they were seen at a new outpatient appointment. All the statistics in this table are based on this group of patients. This figure is always the same as that published under 'Patients seen' .

Median: This is a measure of the typical (average) waiting time. The median is also known as the 50th percentile and signifies that 50% of patients waited up to the time shown; 50% waited longer.

90th percentile: The 90th percentile wait indicates the maximum time 9 out of every 10 patients waited. 90% of patients waited up to the time shown; 10% waited longer.

Distribution of episode length: The episode length is the total length of time between the patient being added to the waiting list and the patient being removed from the waiting list. It includes time when the patient is medically or socially unavailable and also any time before the patient's waiting times clock is reset (due to cancellation or non-attendance). It represents the time between the patient being added to the waiting list and the patient being removed from the list.

Distribution of wait: The figures in this part of the table are always the same as those published under 'Patients seen'. Waiting times are adjusted to deduct periods where the patient is unavailable (e.g. for medical or social reasons). Patients who cancel or don't attend an appointment have their waiting times clock reset to zero. Further information .

Distribution of patient related delay: The 'patient related delay' is a measure of the delay in a patient's treatment due to factors outwith the responsibility of the NHS - it is defined as the difference between the episode length and the waiting time. The patient related delay includes time when the patient is medically or socially unavailable and also any time before the patient's waiting times clock is reset (due to patient cancellation or non-attendance).

Distribution of wait: 3-6 weeks: This indicator comprises those patients who waited at least 22 days and not more than 42 days. Analogous reasoning applies to the other time bands.