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Article: Waiting lists at a 17-year low, says NHS boss; (Unless you're on a hidden list).
- Article from:
- Daily Mail (London)
- Article date:
- December 4, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: JENNY HOPE
HOSPITAL waiting lists have fallen to their lowest level since the 1980s.
The number of patients waiting for routine operations has dropped by 12 per cent in a year - and by a third since the peak six years ago.
The latest figures show that 856,600 people were waiting for an operation in England at the end of September - down from 861,100 in August and the lowest figure since September 1987.
But a survey released at the same time showed that some patients are stuck on hidden waiting lists where they can wait a year or more for scans and other tests.
People who need potentially lifesaving diagnoses of cancer ...