I AM replying to Mr Keith Smith's letter (January 4) on the effect reducing surgical waiting lists may be having on outpatients waiting times.

It is true that the wait for an operation appointment has increased in some surgical specialities because more time has been given to treating patients from the waiting list in preference to seeing outpatients

But the more important reason for the rise in outpatients waits this year is a seven per cent increase in the number of new outpatients referred.

However, outpatient waiters are carefully monitored. The letters from their GPs are not as Mr Smith suggest left languishing in trays.

A very precise analysis has been made on what extra outpatient work needs to be done in the next 12 months to improve waits to the level they were last year.

Mr Smith's suggestion that anyone who complains might be penalised by lengthening their wait is, I think, unfair to our clinicians.

They, in this overloaded NHS strive very hard to be fair seeing people strictly in order of referral or according to their clinical priority.

Dr Peter F Kennedy,

Chief Executive,

York Health Services NHS Trust,

Bootham Park,

York.

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