One in four patients in the Tendring area faces a wait of at least six months for hospital treatment

The figures published today reveal there were 3,817 patients waiting for Trust-funded admissions to hospitals in the area between June to October this year.

Of those, 26.7 per cent or 1,024 had to wait six months or longer for hospital treatment, the Department of Health revealed today.

However, 47 per cent or 1,806 were dealt with in three months or less. And 99, or 2.5 per cent, had to wait longer than a year for treatment.

Department of Health waiting list figures show waiting times faced by patients whose treatment in hospital is funded by Tendring Primary Care Trust.

Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust, which runs hospitals in Clacton and Colchester, provides the treatment paid for by Tendring Primary Care Trust.

In the neighbouring Colchester area nearly half were dealt with in less than three months with a number of specialisms dealing with all or nearly all patients in that time.

Just three per cent of patients, 107 in total, had to wait between 12 and 14 months for treatment. No patients had to wait longer than 14 months for treatment.

A spokesman for Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust said: "The care Trust has to spend that money in the best way.

"If you live in Colchester and have an operation, it will be funded by the primary care trust, if you live in Tendring ,it will be funded by Tendring Primary Care Trust."

Chelmsford Primary Care Trust, which pays for treatment at Broomfield Hospital, had similar waiting times with 44 per cent of its patients waiting less than three months, three per cent waiting between 12 and 14 months and no patients having to wait longer

Published Friday, December 13, 2002

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