Weeks Wait

Change History
DSCN 2021 / 02	Inpatient and Day Case Admissions and First Outpatient Appointments Waiting Times (PP01W) Data Set - Retirement
DDCN 2020 / 01	DATs: Additional Cardiac Tests – Waiting List Start Date
DSCN 2011 / 07	The introduction of the ‘Referral to Treatment Times (Combined)’ return
DDCN 2011 / 02	Angiogram Waiting Time & Referral to Treatment Patient Tracking Report.
DSCN 2010 / 12	Referral to Treatment Patient Tracking Report.
DSCN 2010 / 04	To discontinue the reporting the reporting of the Angiogram Waiting Times Return.
DSCN 2009 / 09	NHS Reforms: NHS Wales Data Definition Update
DSCN (2008) 11 (W)	To change the reporting requirements of Angiogram waits. To cease the reporting of Angioplasties.
DSCN (2008) 10 (W)	Recording and Reporting of Outpatient Pre-Operative Assessment Activity
DSCN (2007) 13 (W)	To remove waits for certain diagnostic endoscopies from the waiting times data collection for inpatient and day case admissions and first outpatient appointments (PP01W).
DSCN (2007) 08 (W)	To Provide Guidance on the Reporting Structure for the Referral to Treatment Time Reporting Requirements
DSCN (2007) 05 (W)	Change to Weekly Time Bands for Diagnostic and Therapy Services Waiting Times Monthly Data Collections
DSCN 52/03 (W)	Monthly Collection of Information on Waiting Times for Specified Diagnostic and Therapy Services

This data item is / was included in the following data sets / collections between the dates shown:

Data Set / Collection	Valid From	Valid To
DT Waiting Times
RTT	1^st April 2007	31^st August 2011
PP01W		8^th February 2021
CRTT	1^st April 2009	31^st August 2011
Angiogram	1^st December 2008	1^st April 2010
RTT (Combined)	1^st September 2011

The time bands for reporting the waiting time counts, some values of which vary between returns developed for different purposes.

The principle for recording the time band for a week’s wait is shown below: -

For reporting purposes a week’s wait is a value of x and refers to "Over x weeks and up to x+1 weeks".

The calculation from days to weeks wait reported is Integer value of (days-1)/7 or zero, whichever is greater.

For example, to calculate the weeks wait for 277 days; use the calculation (days-1)/7: -

(277-1)/7 = 39.428 (equivalent to 39 weeks and 4 days). This will be recorded under the 'Over 39 weeks and up to 40 weeks (Day 274 – 280)' Time Band.

The definition for 999 is different within the RTT (Combined) collections. In RTT (Combined) it refers to patients with unknown RTT start clock date. The correct definition must be applied to the relevant return.

Diagnostic and Therapy Waiting Times: -

The count of waiting time will start from the date the referral was received to the service undertaking the diagnostic test or therapy intervention, which may be the same as the date the referral is received into the organisation (during a direct to test scenario), but is not necessarily the same date, and end on the census date, which is the last day of each month.

The waiting times will be reported grouped within time bands described in weeks up to 40 weeks wait. All waits beyond that will be reported in one group.

Weeks Wait	Time Band
0	Up to 1 week (up to and including 7 days)
1	Over 1 week and up to 2 weeks (day 8 to 14)
2	Over 2 weeks and up to 3 weeks (day 15 to 21)
Etc until
39	Over 39 weeks and up to 40 weeks (day 274 to 280)
40	Over 40 weeks (day 281 and over)
999	Suspensions (for PP01W submissions only)

Referral to Treatment Times (Combined): -

For open pathways, the length of referral to treatment time will be from the clock start date to the end of the census date, which is the last day of the month.

For closed pathways, the length of referral to treatment time will be from the clock start date to the clock stop date, which is within the reporting period.

The referral to treatment times will be reported grouped in time bands described in weeks up to 40 weeks. Over that, reporting will be in 4-week time bands up to a specified 105 weeks wait. Waits beyond that will be reported in one group. Where a Local Health Board/Trust is unable to identify a start clock dates for patients, these will be reported using a Weeks Wait value of '999'.

Weeks Wait	Time Band
0	Up to 1 week (up to and including 7 days)
1	Over 1 week and up to 2 weeks (day 8 to 14)
2	Over 2 weeks and up to 3 weeks (day 15 to 21)
Etc until
39	Over 39 weeks and up to 40 weeks (day 274 to 280)
40	Over 40 weeks and up to 41 weeks (day 281 to 287)
41 - 44	Over 41 weeks and up to 45 weeks (day 288 to 315)
45 - 48	Over 45 weeks and up to 49 weeks (day 316 to 343)
49 - 52	Over 49 weeks and up to 53 weeks (day 344 to 371)
Etc up to
101 - 104	Over 101 weeks and up to 105 weeks (day 708 to day 735)
105	Over 105 weeks (day 736 and over)
999	Patient with unknown RTT start clock date

See WHC (2006) 081 'Delivering a 26 week Patient Pathway' for definitions of 'waiting list date'.

Cardiac Referral to Treatment Times (Retired):-

Time waiting is the difference in between the return date and the waiting list date.

Weeks Wait	Time Band
0	Up to 1 week (up to and including 7 days)
1	Over 1 week and up to 2 weeks (day 8 to 14)
2	Over 2 weeks and up to 3 weeks (day 15 to 21)
Etc until
39	Over 39 weeks and up to 40 weeks (day 274 to 280)
40	Over 40 weeks and up to 41 weeks (day 281 to 287)
41 - 44	Over 41 weeks and up to 45 weeks (day 288 to 315)
45 - 48	Over 45 weeks and up to 49 weeks (day 316 to 343)
49 - 52	Over 49 weeks and up to 53 weeks (day 344 to 371)
Etc up to
101 - 104	Over 101 weeks and up to 105 weeks (day 708 to day 735)
105	Over 105 weeks (day 736 and over)
999	Patient with unknown RTT start clock date

For open pathways, the length of the pathway is measured from the date of referral to the date of the return date (end of the month). An open pathway is recorded where a patient falls within the scope of the target who has not yet reached a stop clock point at the end of the month.

For closed pathways, the length of the pathway is measured from the date of referral to the date of the stop clock point. A closed pathway is recorded where a patient who falls within the scope of the target has reached a stop clock point within the month.

Angiogram (Retired): -

The count of waiting time is the difference in weeks between the return date and the date of decision to admit, not counting periods of suspension. Refer to the current rules regarding management of suspensions.

The waiting times will be reported grouped within time bands described in weeks up to 26 weeks wait. All waits beyond that will be reported in one group.

Weeks Wait	Time Band
0	Up to 1 week (up to and including 7 days)
1	Over 1 week and up to 2 weeks (day 8 to 14)
2	Over 2 weeks and up to 3 weeks (day 15 to 21)
Etc until
26	Over 26 weeks (day 183 and over)