Statistical Press Notice - Direct access Audiology - Referral To Treatment (RTT) Waiting Times data - February 2010

Main Points

-        Data are being published on Direct Access Audiology patients whose referral to treatment (RTT) pathways were completed during February 2010 (completed pathways) and on those patients who were still waiting at the end of February 2010 (incomplete pathways).

-        In total, 34,711 patients for whom English commissioners are responsible completed their Direct Access Audiology RTT pathway during February 2010.  Of these, 99.4% were seen within 18 weeks.

-        At the end of February 2010, 50,423 patients were awaiting Direct Access Audiology treatment.  Of these, 99.3% had been waiting less than 18 weeks.

-        A data completeness assessment is published alongside the figures on completed pathways, which compares the number of completed pathways (with a known clock start) reported in the Direct Access Audiology RTT return against the expected number of pathways.  Currently, national data completeness stands at 107%.

Detailed tables can be found in Annex A and at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics/Directaccessaudiology/index.htm

Statistical Notes

1. Direct Access Audiology Referral to Treatment (RTT) times

Direct Access Audiology (DAA) RTT data is collected from NHS providers (NHS Trusts and other providers) and signed off by commissioners (Primary Care Trusts).

The data collection is in two parts:

Part 1 – Completed pathways
Part 2 – Incomplete pathways

The return includes all patients whose 18 week clock stopped at any point in the reporting period. A column has been provided to enter data for patients whose length of DAA RTT period is unknown, i.e. patients who have had a clock stop during the month but where the clock start date is not known. 

2. Provider and Commissioner based data

Commissioner based returns reflect data on a responsible population basis, which is defined as:

-                    all those patients resident within the PCT boundary; plus
-                    all patients registered with GPs who are members of the PCT, but are resident in another PCT; minus
-                    All patients resident in the PCT, but registered with a GP who is a member of another PCT

Provider based returns cover patients for whom English commissioners are responsible.

Additional Information

Full details of DAA RTT data for individual organisations is available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics/Directaccessaudiology/index.htm

Press enquiries contact:

Press Office
Department of Health
Telephone: 020 7210 5221

The Government Statistical Service (GSS) statistician responsible for producing these data is:

Knowledge and Intelligence
Department of Health
Room 4E63, Quarry House,
Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UE

Email: data18weeks@dh.gsi.gov.uk