New patient appointment booklets and leafets explain more

Data recently released by the Department of Health confirms that patients attending Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals are now treated more quickly.    Under the ‘18 weeks’ initiative the aim is for patients to be diagnosed and start their treatment within 18 weeks of the Trust receiving a referral. 


At the end of March 2008 Ashford and St. Peter’s achieved and surpassed the milestones set by the Department of Health as follows:

Trust Chief Executive Paul Bentley comments: “Making sure our patients are seen within 18 weeks is a major national commitment.    This has meant major reductions in the length of time our patients wait to be treated. I am proud that this Trust has exceeded the March national milestones for both admitted and non-admitted patients.  We will continue to improve on these and are aiming to deliver the national targets by the end of September – three months earlier than required for the national target.”

The national target for December 2008 is that 95 per cent of non-admitted patients and 90 per cent of admitted patients will start treatment within 18 weeks of referral.   Mr Bentley continued: “To achieve these results many of our staff across the whole organisation, particularly our Appointments Centre and the Patient Pathway Team - have worked in different ways to make sure that patients are diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.”

Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said: "This is wonderful news for the 400,000 people served by Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals who live in Elmbridge, Hounslow, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Woking and further afield.  Ten years ago it was not uncommon to wait 18 months or more for treatment.  To meet this milestone is a fantastic achievement by local NHS staff and local and regional management."

From May 2008 onwards the Trust has been rolling out new appointment booklets for patients.   These enable patients to keep a record of their appointments and suggest ways in which patients can help the hospitals:

·          Talk to your GP about your treatment so you know what to expect and when to expect it.

·          Only book your first appointment when you know you will be available (for example not immediately before a lengthy holiday) and when you feel ready and able to continue on to care.

·          Keep the appointments you have been given and cancel any appointments you are not able to attend as soon as possible.

·          It is important that you attend all the appointments that you book. If you cancel or do not attend a hospital appointment you may have to return to your GP to be referred again.

·          If the wait is shorter elsewhere be prepared to consider hospitals other than your local one.

·          To make sure you are fit for treatment, think about how you might help yourself to be ready, for example stopping smoking or losing weight.

The supporting leaflet explains how ‘18 weeks’ works:

1.       Referral:

·          You have an appointment with your GP, nurse or other healthcare professional who recommends a referral for tests or treatment.

·          You book your first appointment through the Choose and Book system.

·          Or a letter of referral is sent to the hospital or clinic.

2.       Steps along the way:

·          You may have tests done to diagnose your condition.

·          You may start a course of medication or therapy to manage your symptoms until you start your treatment.

·          You may be referred to another consultant, specialist or service.

3.       Treatments:

·          You may receive advice and guidance on how to handle your condition.

·          You may start an agreed period of time to monitor your condition to see if you need treatment.

·          You may start a course of treatment that doesn’t require you to stay in hospital.

·          Or you may be admitted to hospital for an operation or treatment.

To help ensure that patients do not forget their appointments the Trust is also rolling out across all departments a text reminder service for those patients who agree to provide their mobile phone number.