PEOPLE WILL BE SCEPTICAL ABOUT CHANGE TO WAITING TIME TARGET - BURT

6.24.00pm GMT Thu 8th Nov 2007

Commenting on the announcement today that the Government is to amend its 18 week waiting time target for NHS treatment to allow for 'clinically justified' delays, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Health in the West Midlands & Parliamentary Candidate for West Worcestershire, Richard Burt said:

"Ministers will struggle to convince a public already sceptical about government statistics that this change isn't merely providing political cover because of fears they will fail to achieve their target.

"It must have been clear from the start that the 18 weeks target wouldn't be suitable for everyone, including those who want to delay their treatment for a clinical or other reason.

"This seems like yet more shifting sands over waiting times. Why is this key target being changed now? Many people will smell a rat.

"Giving every patient an entitlement to high quality care would deliver more improvements in the NHS than a centrally-imposed bureaucratic target."