The latest monthly National Statistics on NHS Consultant-led Referral to Treatment (RTT) waiting times were released on 13^th February 2014 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

The key points from the latest release are:

• During December 2013, 91.5% of admitted patients and 96.8% of non-admitted patients started treatment within 18 weeks. For patients waiting to start treatment (incomplete pathways) at the end of December 2013, 93.6% were waiting within 18 weeks.

• 269,708 RTT patients started admitted treatment and 764,921 started non-admitted treatment during December 2013. The number of RTT patients waiting to start treatment at the end of December 2013 was just over 2.88 million patients.

• The average (median) time waited for patients completing an RTT pathway in December 2013 was 8.3 weeks for admitted patients and 4.9 weeks for non-admitted patients. For patients waiting to start treatment at the end of December 2013 the median waiting time was 6.3 weeks.

• For patients waiting to start treatment (incomplete pathways) at the end of December 2013, 317 were waiting more than 52 weeks.

The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust and Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust did not submit any (admitted, non-admitted and incomplete) RTT pathway data for December 2013.

Detailed tables of waiting times by treatment function (specialty), commissioner and provider can be found here.

Also released on 13^th February 2014 is the RTT Waiting Times Statistics for England 2013 Annual Report. The report can be found here.

We welcome feedback on the content and presentation of RTT statistics within the Statistical Press Notice and those published on the NHS England website. If anyone has any comments on this, or any other issues regarding RTT data and statistics, then please email

RTTdata@dh.gsi.gov.uk

The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Designation can be broadly interpreted to mean that the statistics:

• meet identified user needs;
• are well explained and readily accessible;
• are produced according to sound methods, and
• are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest.

Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.