ROTHERHAM Hospital has smashed its target for waiting times nine months ahead of schedule.
The target - to treat some patients within 18 weeks after being referred by primary care - was due to be met by December.
But hospital bosses have confirmed the hospital had already met its target by March - making it one of the best performing tr
usts in the country.
Chief executive Brian James said: "A lot of staff have worked very hard to help the organisation achieve this fantastic result. Hitting this target demonstrates we are one of the best performing organisations in the country.
"Ensuring treatment within 18 weeks is good for patients, as it reduces stress and anxiety and prevents their conditions getting worse. However we have ambitions to reduce that waiting time further."
What do you think? Add your comment below.The 18-week target applies to patients referred from primary care to a consultant-led service for planned care.
It also applies to patients who are referred to an intermediate or assessment service, if the patient is referred onward to a medical or surgical consultant-led service.
Hospitals were set the task of ensuring by December this year that 95 per cent of patients who do not need to be admitted were treated within 18 weeks and 90 per cent of all admitted patients were dealt with in the target time.
The 18 weeks include any time spent waiting for and receiving diagnostic tests.
By the end of March Rotherham Hospital ensured 97 per cent of the non-admitted and 91 per cent of admitted patients had been dealt with within 18 weeks - which means it not only met but exceeded the Government target.
READ MOREMore Rotherham newsMain news indexThe full article contains 294 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
