NHS on track to hit waiting time targets

NHS Lothian is on course to meet stringent targets on the amount of time patients have to wait between being referred and beginning treatment.

The Scottish Government wants all health boards to hit the 18-week goal by the end of the year.

But figures released yesterday by ISD Scotland show the health board in Edinburgh is well on course to meet that ahead of schedule.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “Patients continue to tell me that prompt access to treatment, delivered as locally as possible, is one of their top priorities and that is why we are continuing to put such an emphasis on cutting waiting times.

“The delivery of the 18-week target is a big challenge for our NHS but the service has shown that it is fit for this challenge and I expect boards to continue to take sustained action to ensure that this promise to patients is delivered.”