The latest monthly National Statistics on NHS Consultant-led Referral to Treatment (RTT) waiting times produced by the Department of Health were released on 19th July 2012 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.
The key points from the latest release are:
- During May 2012, 92.6% of admitted patients and 97.9% of non-admitted patients started treatment within 18 weeks. For patients waiting to start treatment (incomplete pathways) at the end of May 2012, 94.4% were waiting within 18 weeks.
- 323,588 RTT patients started admitted treatment and 946,806 started non-admitted treatment during May 2012. The number of RTT patients waiting to start treatment at the end of May 2012 was around 2.56 million patients.
- The average (median) time waited for patients completing an RTT pathway in May 2012 was 8.4 weeks for admitted patients and 4.1 weeks for non-admitted patients. For patients waiting to start treatment at the end of May 2012 the median waiting time was 5.3 weeks.
- Average (median) waiting times have been broadly stable, following a seasonal pattern, over the past three years. May 2012 median waiting times are consistent with the usual seasonal position.
Revisions to RTT data for the period September 2011 to April 2012 were also published. The revisions include data that was previously missing from Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Detailed tables of data with NHS RTT waiting times figures for England, Primary Care Trusts, Strategic Health Authorities, NHS Trusts and Independent Sector providers can be found here.
Download full press release (PDF, 36K)
Download pre-release access list (PDF 7K)
We welcome feedback on the content and presentation of RTT statistics within the Statistical Press Notice and those published on the DH website. If anyone has any comments on this, or any other issues regarding RTT data and statistics, then please email RTTdata@dh.gsi.gov.uk
The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Designation can be broadly interpreted to mean that the statistics:
- meet identified user needs;
- are well explained and readily accessible;
- are produced according to sound methods, and
- are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest.
Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.
