The Office for Statistics Regulation wrote to Scott Heald and Alastair McAlpine about NHS Inform waiting times

31 October 2022 · Ed Humpherson, Office for Statistics Regulation

The letter, dated 31 October 2022, replies to correspondence of 31 October 2022. The Office for Statistics Regulation published it as Ed Humpherson to Scott Heald and Alastair McAlpine: NHS Inform waiting times. Below are 4 passages from the letter in the regulator's own words.

What the Office for Statistics Regulation wrote

“You will be aware that concerns have been raised with us, as well as being highlighted in this article in The Times, that the figures are misleading.”

“The data in the dashboard are extracted from Official Statistics published by Public Health Scotland which includes, amongst others, statistics on waiting times for patients seen, waiting times for patients waiting at month end, and patient unavailability.”

“We have heard that there have been instances of conflict between patients and surgeons in the orthopaedics specialty around the realistic lengths of time patients should expect to wait.”

“We welcome the development of a dashboard to make these statistics accessible to patients.”

From Ed Humpherson, Office for Statistics Regulation, letter of 31 October 2022. Read the full letter.

Correspondence

• The letter it answered: Jackie Baillie MSP to Ed Humpherson – NHS waiting times (31 October 2022)

Receipt