As outlined in the NHS Constitution, we aim to treat you as quickly and efficiently as possible and in line with the national patient commitment, within 18 weeks of notification of your referral.
This is achieved by minimising unnecessary delays and ensuring key elements such as outpatient appointments, diagnostic tests and agreeing your admission date for surgery (should you need it) take place within the correct timeframes. We start a clock ticking upon notification of your referral and stop it upon either:
This is any treatment which will hopefully avoid the need for further treatment. For example, you could be treated within outpatients with medication or as an inpatient with surgery
or
You may have a condition whereby treatment is not necessary at the moment but your clinician wants to continue to monitor you in case it deteriorates.
There are various ways in which you can help in minimising delays in receiving your treatment. Examples include:
The Department of Health requires all acute NHS Trusts to publish Accident and Emergency performance against new clinical quality indicators.
You may have questions about your wait for treatment. If this is the case, please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) in the first instance in any of the following ways:
They will ensure that your query is directed promptly to the most appropriate person.
Should you wish to read more about the national patient commitments we adhere to, please click on the following links below:
www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk
Guide to NHS waiting times for patients (from NHS Choices)
Back
Visit the UHCW CHarity Website