Welsh HAs told to cut cataract waiting lists

A budget of &\#163;40m has been allocated to health authorities in the principality to tackle waiting times, and the money will be used to meet new targets set by Ms Hutt. Addressing the assembly's health and social services committee, Ms Hutt said: 'In May I made &\#163;40m available for health authorities to tackle unacceptable waiting times in the NHS. 'Each of the health authorities is expected to use that money to meet the stringent and challenging targets I have set them for this year. By the end of March 2001 health authorities must reduce the total waiting list for inpatient and day-case treatment in Wales to around 65,500. This means a reduction of 15,000.' Alongside speeding up access to cataract treatment Ms Hutt also said she expected HAs to reduce the number of those waiting more than six months for a first outpatient appointment by 50 per cent; to eliminate waits of over 12 months for inpatient and day-case treatment in most cases by the end of June 2001; and to agree a rolling programme to better manage demand and to establish sustainable booked admissions systems. 'Innovations in care', a programme to 'modernise' patient access to hospital treatment in Wales, was also unveiled. 'This programme will act as a catalyst to drive the change and innovation needed in the NHS to achieve reduced waiting lists and times,' said Ms Hutt. 'It will ensure that all organisations in NHS Wales introduce best practice in the treatment of patients. It will modernise and transform the way patient care is delivered in Wales and provide trusts and health authorities with the necessary tools to deliver change.'