What are the key NHS targets?

What are the key NHS targets?

There are the three main NHS targets related to physical health. They are sometimes called ‘Key Performance Indicators’ (or KPIs). They are:

1. 4 Hour A&E Target 

   – for emergency care. Known as ‘4 Hours’. It states 95% of emergency patients should be seen, treated if necessary, and either discharged or admitted, within four hours from arrival at the emergency department (ED).
   – last achieved in July 2015
   Note. There is also a 12 Hour Trolley Wait. This is a limit, not a target. It states patients should not wait to be admitted on a trolley (for e.g. in the ED or an ambulance) for over 12 hours. Clock starts at time of decision to admit.

2. 18 Week Referral to Treatment (RTT) Target

   – for elective (i.e. planned) care, especially operations. 18 weeks is the maximum waiting time for non-urgent, consultant-led treatment in NHS (e.g. CKD or a hip replacement). 92% of patients should achieve it. It is also known as ‘18 weeks’. It is measured from the day from when the GP refers the patient to the start of treatment (or the decision not to treat).
   – last achieved in February 2016

3. Cancer targets: 2 Week and 31/62 Day Targets
   

   In England, if a GP suspects cancer, at least:

• 93% should see a hospital consultant within a ‘2 week wait’ (2WW), from when the GP’s referral arrives at the hospital
• 96% should wait no more than 31 days from receiving diagnosis to first treatment plan (31 days)
• 85% should wait no more than 62 days to have ‘First Definitive Treatment’ (e.g. an operation or chemotherapy or radiotherapy) from arrival of original referral letter (62 days)

Note 1. It was last achieved in December 2015
Note 2. In England the cancer targets are now changing. The 2WW started to be changed for a 28-day faster diagnosis standard in Oct 2023.
Note 3. There are no well-known GP targets. CKDEx thinks there should be.

And there are three main targets related to mental health:

1. Counselling
   75% of people referred to IAPT (counselling) programmes should begin treatment within 6 weeks of referral, and 95% within 18 weeks
2. Psychosis (severe mental illness, e.g. schizophrenia)
   For those having their first episode of psychosis, 50% should receive NICE-recommended treatments within 2 weeks of referral
3. Eating Disorder
   95% of children and young people (up to the age of 19 years), referred for assessment or treatment for an eating disorder, should receive NICE-approved treatment – within 1 week if the case is urgent, and 4 weeks if the case is non-urgent.

Most of these targets are your legal right under the NHS Constitution.

Summary

We have explained what are the key NHS targets. They are the 4 hour A&E target, 18 week Referral-to-treatment (RTT) target, and the 2 week (2WW) and 31/62 day Cancer Targets. There are no well-known GP targets. There should be.

4 hours, 18 weeks and the 2WW were last achieved in July 2015, February 2016 and December 2015 respectively. And the two week target is now becoming a 28 day one.

We are very sorry that we are not hitting them at present. The British public deserve more. We will try our best to improve.

Oher resource

This is a related article.
How long should I wait to see an NHS hospital consultant?

Last Reviewed on 15 March 2024