Diagnostics Data Monthly Report

1
Diagnostics Data Monthly Report
August 2007/8 (published October 2007)
2
Contents
3
The Diagnostic Report - Introduction
This report presents diagnostic waiting time data
since it was first collected in April
2006. Next months data September - is
published on Wednesday 14th November at
http//www.performance.doh.gov.uk/diagnostics/inde
x.htm Separate reports covering the
diagnostics census data and the KH12 imaging and
radiodiagnostic data are available
at Diagnostics census http//www.performance.d
oh.gov.uk/diagnostics/census.html KH12
http//www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity
/data_requests/imaging_and_radiodiagnostics.htm
Data from the latest census, June 2007, are
provided on slide 5. Notes Please note that
in October 2006, the definition of Audiometry
tests was widened to incorporate more procedures.
So care should be taken when looking at trends in
the Audiology data.
4
Summary Position August 2007

• The monthly summary shows the data position in
  April 2006 (the baseline point for analysis),
  data from the census and the two most recent
  months of diagnostics waiting time data.
• Key Improvement Deterioration

5
HEADLINE MESSAGES

• Monthly data - covering the 15 key diagnostics
  tests
• At the end of August 2007, there were 174,100
  over 6 weeks waits and 71,800 over 13 week waits
  for the 15 key diagnostic tests. The numbers of
  long waits continue to fall.
• The number of waits over 6 weeks fell by a
  further 12,100 (6.5) from 186,200 at the end of
  July to 174,100 at the end of August. The number
  of over 13 weeks waits fell by 11,300 (13.6)
  from 83,100 to 71,800.
• The expected average waiting time now stands at
  3.8 weeks compared with 6.8 in April 2006. The
  median waiting time, which is a
• more stable measure, less effected by seasonal
  variations in activity levels, has decreased to
  3.4 weeks, from 6.1 weeks in April 2006.
• Audiology waits continue to dominate the numbers
  of long waits, but are also continuing to fall.
  Over 6 week audiology waits but fell by 6,700
  (8.2) to 75,200, and over 13 week waits fell by
  6,500 (10.3) to 56,600.
• The performance is very skewed geographically.
  When audiology is excluded from the analysis,
  performance at SHA level varies from 13.9 of
  waits being over 13 weeks in South East Coast to
  0.2 in North East and East of England.
• The 20 worst performing PCTs account for over 84
  of the over 13 week waiters. The RSU is following
  these up specifically with the SHAs involved.

• Census data covering all diagnostic tests
• The diagnostic census provides information on the
  number of long waiters for all diagnostic tests,
  in addition to those covered in the monthly
  return.
• In addition to the 15 key diagnostics tests, the
  quarterly census of all tests, carried out at the
  end of June 2007, indicates, there are an extra
  27,000 over 13 week waiters and 94,000 over 6
  week waiters in tests not captured in the 15
  included in the monthly return.

6
Headlines and main issues

• Imaging
• Imaging waiters continue to fall each month
• At August 2007, there were 55,414 waiters over 6
  weeks
• The longest waits are for DEXA Scan expected
  wait 4.8 weeks.
• Ultrasound and Nuclear medicine Steering groups
  created to address the challenges to 18 weeks.
• Physiological Measurement
• Waits continue to fall across Physiological
  Measurement, although this is largely due to
  continued reductions each month in numbers
  waiting for Audiology Assessments
• At August 2007, there were 20,979 waiters over
  6 weeks (exc. Audiology Assessments) and 96,154
  (inc. Audiology Assessments)
• The longest waits are for Audiology Assessments
  expected wait 8.1 weeks, followed by Sleep
  Physiology 6.9
• The shortest waits are for Echocardiography
  expected wait 3.2 weeks.
• Total number waiting for Sleep Physiology
  continues to rise for the second consecutive
  month Augusts figure is now similar to the same
  number waiting in Jan 07
• Total number waiting for Cardiac
  Electrophysiology has plateaued out. August is
  the same as it was in May 07
• Total number waiting for Echocardiography,
  Peripheral Neurophysiology and Urodynamics
  continue to fall gradually each month
• Little or no reduction in numbers waiting 6
  weeks from July to August in all tests except
  Audiology Assessments.
• Endoscopy

7
Diagnostic Waiters All 15 TESTS
This graph shows the monthly time series
illustrating the numbers of waiters by time band
for all the 15 monthly tests.
8
Diagnostic Activity All 15 TESTS
This graph shows the monthly time series
illustrating the level of activity by type for
all the 15 monthly tests. Note No activity data
is available for May 2006/07 due to technical
difficulties.
9
Diagnostic Waiters August 2007 By Test
This graph shows the current months data
illustrating the numbers of waiters by timeband
for each of the 15 monthly tests.
10
Diagnostic Activity August 2007 By Test
This graph shows the current months data
illustrating the level of activity by type for
each of the 15 monthly tests.
11
Waiting List Charts August 2007 All 15 tests
These graphs illustrate the total number waiting
for all tests, the waiting list activity and 6
and 13 week waiters carried out for all tests.
12
Long Waiter Charts August 2007 All 15 tests
Number of waiters
Trend line
These graphs illustrate the total number waiting
for all tests, by timeband grouping.
13
Audiology Assessments - Physiological
Measurement
Please note that in October 2006 the definition
of Audiometry tests was widened to incorporate
more procedures. So care should be taken when
looking at trends in the Audiology data.
14
Echocardiography - Physiological Measurement
15
Cardiac electrophysiology - Physiological
Measurement
16
Peripheral Neurophysiology - Physiological
Measurement
17
Sleep Studies - Physiological Measurement
18
Urodynamics - Physiological Measurement
19
COMBINED - Physiological Measurement
All Physiological Measurement tests
All Physiological Measurement tests (excluding
audiology because of the large proportion of
audiology assessments)
Number of waiters
Number of waiters - all tests (secondary axis)
20
Summary - Physiological Measurement (1)
Audiology
Echocardiography
Electrophysiology
Number of waiters
Number of waiters - all tests (secondary axis)
21
Summary - Physiological Measurement (2)
Peripheral neurophysiology
Sleep studies
Urodynamics
Number of waiters
Number of waiters - all tests (secondary axis)
22
August 2007 SHA Summary Rankings
The rankings above are based on all 15 tests. The
three worst performing SHAs are shown in pink.
23
Comparison of 6 week waiters Heat Maps August
2007
Percentage of patients waiting less than 6 weeks
All 15 Tests
More than 90
Between 70 and 90
Less than 70
No waiting list declared
The heat map compares the 6 week waiters at the
152 PCTs.
24
Comparison of 6 week waiters Heat Maps August
2007
Physiological Measurement Tests
Audiology
Cardiac Electrophysiology
Echocardiology
Peripheral Neurophysiology
Percentage of patients waiting less than 6 weeks
Sleep Studies
Urodynamics
More than 90
Between 70 and 90
Less than 70
No waiting list declared
25
Performance of worst 25 PCTs across 14 tests
(i.e. excluding audiology) August 2007
The table above shows the 25 worst performing
PCTs, based on the proportion of 13 week waiters
for all tests excluding audiology.