The latest monthly National Statistics on NHS Consultant-led Referral to Treatment (RTT) waiting times were released on 10th July 2014 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

The key points from the latest release are:

• During May 2014, 90.1% of admitted patients and 96.5% of non-admitted patients started treatment within 18 weeks. For patients waiting to start treatment (incomplete pathways) at the end of May 2014, 93.7% were waiting up to 18 weeks.

• 301,772 RTT patients started admitted treatment and 855,679 started non-admitted treatment during May 2014. The number of RTT patients waiting to start treatment at the end of May 2014 was just under 3.1 million patients.

• The average (median) time waited for patients completing an RTT pathway in May 2014 was 9.1 weeks for admitted patients and 5.5 weeks for non-admitted patients. For patients waiting to start treatment at the end of May 2014, the median waiting time was 6.2 weeks.

• For patients waiting to start treatment (incomplete pathways) at the end of May 2014, 574 were waiting more than 52 weeks.

The following Trusts did not submit any (admitted, non-admitted and incomplete) RTT pathway data for May 2014:
• Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust,
• Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust,

The following Trusts did not submit incomplete RTT pathway data for May 2014:
• Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,
• Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust,
• The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Revisions to RTT data for October, November and December 2013 and January, February and April 2014 were also published. The revisions have not had a significant impact on performance against the operational standards at national level. The full set of revised data and detailed tables of waiting times by treatment function (specialty), commissioner and provider are available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/rtt-waiting-times/.

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.