Sleep centre struggles with 18 week target

The FT said it was meeting the 18 week waiting target during April and May “in aggregate but not at speciality level”. It identified its Sleep Disorder Centre as the problem area.

Board papers said: “In months one and two the trust failed to achieve the 18 week standard for admitted patients in sleep studies achieved in all other specialities.”

Noting the problem, the trust drew up a plan including the opening of a sixth bedroom to “assist in reducing waits” and the introduction of a “twilight shift”. However, “delays to the business case and a complex consultation resulted and this has meant a delay to implementation of that plan”.

As a result, the trust hopes to be meeting the 18 week target in its sleep centre by the autumn.

The papers state: “A first draft trajectory for all sleep study tests to ensure that 18 weeks is met has been produced by the team indicating achievement of the target in September/October 2012.”