Chelsea and Westminster Hospital exceeds waiting time target

Patients at Chelsea and Westminster can now expect to be treated more quickly, according to official statistics published by the Department of Health today (Thursday 29 May).

The hospital not only met but exceeded a government target that by March 2008 90% of outpatients and 85% of inpatients and day case patients should be treated for non-urgent conditions within 18 weeks of referral by their GP.

Patients with urgent conditions such as cancer and heart disease are seen and treated more quickly.

97% of outpatients and 91% of inpatients and day cases were treated within 18 weeks at Chelsea and Westminster in March.

The hospital has therefore met 9 months early the government’s challenging target that by December 2008 95% of outpatients and 90% of inpatients and day cases are treated within 18 weeks.

Chief Executive, Heather Lawrence said: “I want to thank and congratulate all our staff whose hard work has enabled us to reduce waiting times for patients at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

“We are not complacent and we will continue to work with our staff to make waiting times for patients even shorter.”

Notes to editors:

• Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the best three hospitals in London
  NHS annual performance ratings 2007
• 90% of patients treated at Chelsea and Westminster rate the quality of their care as ‘excellent’, ‘very good’ or ‘good’
  NHS national patient survey 2007
• The number of MRSA cases at Chelsea and Westminster has been reduced by 66% in the last three years
  Health Protection Agency statistics 2004/05 – 2007/08
• Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top five hospitals in England for improved mortality rates
  Dr Foster Hospital Guide

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