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Your Wait for Treatment

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:

First definitive treatment

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

If a decision is made that treatment is not required

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.

Help us to treat you

There are various ways in which you can help in minimising delays in receiving your treatment. Examples include:

  • Keep your appointments
  • If you cannot make your appointment, PLEASE notify us at the earliest opportunity.  If you booked your appointment through the Choose and Book System this can be done:
    • Calling the Choose and Book Appointments Line on 08456 088 888
    • Calling our Booking Centre on 0800 252 060 (calls are free from a BT landline but mobile phone charges may vary)
  • Ensure you are available for the next 18 weeks following referral from your GP.
  • If you already have holiday plans which will make you unavailable for a period, please tell your GP who can then refer you after your holiday.
  • Think about your lifestyle. Could it be improved by stopping smoking or losing weight so that you will be fit for treatment if needed?

New Government waiting time indicators

The Department of Health requires all acute NHS Trusts to publish Accident and Emergency performance against new clinical quality indicators. 

If you have questions about your wait

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:

  • By phone 0800 028 4203 (calls are free from a BT landline but mobile phone charges may vary)
  • By email feedback@uhcw.nhs.uk
  • In writing to: Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, University Hospital, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry, CV2 2DX

They will ensure that your query is directed promptly to the most appropriate person.

Further Information

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)