answer text |
<p>Official statistics for elective waiting times, known as Referral to Treatment
(RTT), are fully compliant with the Statistical Code of Practice (that is, they meet
the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and value) and are designated as
National Statistics by the Office for Statistics Regulation.</p><p>The Department
receives assurance from NHS England on the accuracy of hospital waiting times. NHS
England currently collects and publishes the monthly national waiting times data,
carrying out aggregate-level validation checks. Where issues are identified at provider-level,
NHS England will work with providers to ensure data errors are rectified. The Standard
Contract put in place by NHS England obliges providers to comply with national information
standards and data submission requirements. All trust annual governance statements
from April 2015 must include an explicit statement on how the trust will assure waiting
time data quality, accuracy and risks.</p><p>NHS England update RTT recording and
reporting guidance when changes are required. The last update was August 2017 and
an update is planned by NHS England for the start of 2020/21. New data on waiting
times is published every month at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2019-20/"
target="_blank">https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2019-20/</a></p><p>There
is also general guidance available on waiting times on the NHS England web page at
the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/hospitals/guide-to-nhs-waiting-times-in-england/"
target="_blank">https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/hospitals/guide-to-nhs-waiting-times-in-england/</a></p>
|
|