Table 6.

Comparison of waiting times and satisfaction in UK countries

	England		Scotland		Wales		Northern Ireland
	1996-7	2002-3	1996-7	2002-3	1996-7	2002-3	1996-7	2002-3
Inpatient and day case waiting list (%):
Total population waiting*	2.3	1.9	NA	NA	2.2	2.5	2.7	3.3
Waiting <6 months†	74.9	80.6	NA	NA	NA	63	62.2	60.1
Waiting 6 to <12 months†	22.4	19.4	NA	NA	NA	21	20.6	18.4
Waiting ≥12 months†	2.7	0	NA	NA	9.9	15.9	17.1	22.0
Outpatient waiting list (%):
Total population waiting*	NA	NA	NA	NA	3.5	7.4	3.7	8.4
Waiting <3 months†	NA	80	NA	NA	72	45.7	64.8	42.1
Waiting <6 months†	NA	100	NA	NA	94.1	67.6	80.7	61.4
Waiting ≥6 months†	NA	0	NA	NA	5.9	32.4	19.3	38.6
% of public satisfied11,12:
With general running of NHS	36	43	37	40	41	38	48	74
With inpatient care	51	49	61	58	63	60	67	84
With outpatient care	50	51	64	60	63	55	70	88
With general practice care	77	72	81	73	79	68	83	90

NA=Data not available or not recorded in a comparable format.

^*Number on waiting list as % of total population.

^†% of those on the waiting list.