Priority patients should be given a deadline (date) for
when their assessment/treatment should commence. This deadline is set on the
basis of a medical assessment of the seriousness of the condition and the
potential benefit of the treatment.
Psychiatry and substance abuse
Children and young people under 23 years of age with
mental health issues and/or substance addictions should not wait longer than 65
working days for their assessment/treatment.
Other patients
Patients who require care from the specialist health
service but who are not priority patients will be given an indication of the
estimated waiting time but not a binding deadline.
The start of the assessment/treatment will depend on
available capacity in the specialist health service.
All patients referred to the specialist health service
should be notified by letter as to whether or not they are entitled to
necessary healthcare and of any deadline.