I read the report regarding hospital waiting lists (December 29) and was pleased to learn how successful York District Hospital has been in reducing the waiting time for operations.

However, I feel that things may not be quite all that they seem.

It would appear that many hospitals have a new ploy to create an illusion of reduced waiting.

When patients are referred to a consultant by a GP, the letters languish in the "in" tray for several months before an appointment is made, and consequently during that time the patients are not actually shown as being on a waiting list at all.

Shortly before the hospital is ready to undertake the treatment an appointment is made for an examination and the hospital statistics will indicate a very-much reduced waiting time.

The period between referral and appointment is ignored!

Of course, no patient dare complain as there is the real fear that the letter would slip further down the pile.

As no appointment exists, it would be impossible to prove that this has happened.

Keith Smith,

Dikelands Lane,

Upper Poppleton,

York.

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