Six-month inpatient waits

Number of patients who have been waiting less than 6 months for an inpatient ordinary or day case admission as a percentage of the number of patients waiting for an inpatient ordinary or day case admission

Rationale

By March 2004, the number of 6-month waiters should be reduced by 40%. This indicator shows how well trusts have progressed towards achieving the NHS Plan target of 6-month maximum wait for inpatient treatment by December 2005. Urgent cases will continue to be treated faster in accordance with clinical need.

Thresholds

Legend
Band 1 - poor	less than 87%
Band 2	greater than or equal to 87% and less than 89%
Band 3	greater than or equal to 89% and less than 93%
Band 4	greater than or equal to 93% and less than 97%
Band 5 - good	Greater than or equal to 97%