[Sick leave while on a waiting list]

Evidence suggest that waiting for hospital treatment leeds to unnecessary sick leaves. However, we know little about the extent of the problem. During a six-week period, 1,061 patients attending a total of ten hospital departments for the first time for outpatient treatment or examination received a self-administered questionnaire about sick leaves during the waiting period. 901 patients responded. Great variations were found between the ten departments. The average waiting period was 86 days (32-226 days). 26% (8-61%) of the patients had had a sick leave during the waiting period caused by the disease for which they were seeking treatment; average duration was 48 days (17-89 days); total sick leave for all patients responding in this survey was 11,000 days. Of patients with a sick leave during the waiting period, 44% thought that the examination or treatment which they attended would increase their ability to work, while their doctors were somewhat less optimistic (36%). The study shows that a large proportion of patients on waiting lists for hospital treatment are incapable of work and that cost savings achieved by cutting down waiting period may be considerable.