This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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First demo of Waiting Times Database
10/06/2002
The first public demonstration of the National Waiting Times Database was included today among a showcase of more than 100 of the most innovative projects undertaken by NHSScotland.
At the Good Practice in Action Conference in Dunblane, Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm stressed that such examples of innovation was central to NHS reform.
Some of the projects include:
- the "one stop" ophthalmology cataract service at the Eye Centre at Borders General Hospital in Melrose where patients have recently given it a 100% satisfaction vote
- the reduction in waiting times from 7 months to 2-4 weeks for dermatology patients in the Western Isles with the use of a unique tele-dermatology system linked with Raigmore Hospital in Inverness
- the training of nurses in Fife to undertake endoscopies which has resulted in waiting times for this procedure reducing from 16 to 4 weeks
- Patients in Argyll and Clyde receiving diagnostic triage within the GP practice which has resulted in them waiting six rather than 22 weeks for treatment for musculo-skeletal problems
Commenting on the showcase, the Minister said:
"There are many varied examples of excellent initiatives right across NHSScotland that are making a real difference to the care that patients receive.
"Communication is central to sharing these good ideas across the service. That's why communication must be seen as an important part of improving the patient experience. By sharing these great examples we can ensure good practice becomes common practice.
"I am particularly pleased that many of the projects showcased are in our key priority areas of cancer, waiting, health improvement and primary care. This is a great credit to the front-line staff who are shaping and delivering these services.
"This conference is an important milestone in demonstrating NHS commitment to health and health services. We should celebrate success and we should look to ways to build the momentum for future reform. In the next five years investment in Scotland's health will increase by nearly 50%. But investment alone is not enough, to make a real difference that investment must be accompanied by reform.
"What we will see today points the way in which we can radically reform health and health services across Scotland by being more innovative to the real benefit of patients. Not innovation for innovation's sake - but for the real benefit of patients.
"We have not managed to showcase all of these innovative projects. There are many more examples of good practice and these will be showcased by an on-line good practice guide which I hope will become an invaluable resource for staff across the country."
On the new database, which will go live by the end of the year, the Minister said:
"I believe that this database will make a real difference in improving choice for patients. It will mean more accurate and timely information is available on waiting times and that information can be compared across NHS board boundaries.
"The database will enable the best possible use of capacity across the NHS in Scotland, help identify and shift bottlenecks and should even out the inconsistencies in waiting times across Scotland."
The prototype is web-based and will allow individual queries to be made. The Executive will be consulting with NHS professionals and patient interests over the coming months on the content of the site and how it will be used.