Six month inpatient waits

Number of patients who had been waiting less than six months for inpatient treatment at quarter end as a percentage of the number of patients on the inpatient waiting list

Rationale

This indicator shows how well trusts have progressed towards achieving the NHS Plan target of six month maximum wait for inpatient treatment by December 2005. Urgent cases will continue to be treated faster in accordance with clinical need.

Thresholds

Legend
Band 1 - poor	Less than 85%
Band 2	Greater than or equal to 85% and less than 90%
Band 3	Greater than or equal to 90% and less than 95%
Band 4	Greater than or equal to 95% and less than 99%
Band 5 - good	Greater than or equal to 99%

Data source and period

KH07 quarterly waiting times return (As at 31st March 2005)

Construction

Numerator:
The number of patients who have been waiting less than six months for an inpatient ordinary or day case admission at the end of Q4.

Denominator:
The number of patients on the waiting list for inpatient ordinary or day case admission at the end of Q4.

Indicator:
The number of patients who have been waiting less than six months for an inpatient ordinary or day case admission at the end of Q4 divided by the number of patients on the waiting list for inpatient ordinary or day case admission at the end of Q4.

Expressed as a percentage.