Updated NHS Scotland waiting times guidance

The guidance will continue to make sure that patients who are on waiting lists are managed fairly and consistently across NHSScotland.

This guidance will support Health Boards to effectively manage their Planned Care waiting lists and replaces the previous waiting times guidance (2012) to support health boards in the delivery of the national waiting times standards.. This will support delivering healthcare services that will be:

Person-Centred – there will be mutually beneficial partnerships between patients, their families and those delivering healthcare services which respect individual needs and values, and which demonstrate compassion, continuity, clear communication, and shared decision-making.

Safe – there will be no avoidable injury or harm to people from healthcare they receive, and an appropriate, clean, and safe environment will be provided for the delivery of healthcare services at all times.

Effective – the most appropriate treatments, interventions, support, and services will be provided at the right time to everyone, who will benefit at equitable rates, and wasteful or harmful variation will be eradicated.

Communication with Patients

It is important that patients are provided with clear, accurate and transparent communications at the beginning of their care journey. This should detail what they should expect and their responsibilities while they are waiting for their appointment / test / treatment. Health Boards must have consistent, effective processes for communicating with patients on a regular basis.

Communications with patients should be in a form appropriate to their needs, e.g. large print or relevant translations. It is important that patients are asked to confirm their needs at the beginning of their journey and their preferred format when receiving communication from the Health Board. It may be necessary to contact the referring clinician or patient / patient’s carer to clarify communication requirements such as different formats, languages or if an interpreter is required.

Communication can be in any form that the patient has indicated in writing that they consent to receiving information, including telephone, electronically or post.

Health Boards should maximise virtual appointments where appropriate and accepted by the patient, and their carers. However, patients should not be disadvantaged if they require a face-to-face appointment.

This guidance aims to account for ongoing improvements and changes to the way services are being delivered. Additionally, the principles which are contained within this guidance should be applied to all patients who have been referred for an appointment, diagnostic test, or treatment.

The information above is taken from the Scottish Government website and the full article, published 4 December 2023 can be found here.

For further information email: waitingtimespolicy@gov.scot

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