The great waiting list cull of 2005

Over 8,000 patients were culled (take off without surgery they had been assessed as qualifying for) last year. This is double the average of the five years before that.

We see though what the Prime Minister is most concerned about – the publicity:

She said that about two-thirds of the district health boards “appear to be managing their waiting lists in a way that doesn’t attract headlines”.

So the message for heath boards and their managers is that you can cull as many patients as you like, but make sure you do it in a way which doesn’t attract headlines. Incredible!