(Un)timely care: findings from the Waiting Times project

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Sociology of Health
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is experiencing a significant crisis in patient waiting times.
• This crisis prompts calls for improved management, increased resources, and strategies to address staff burnout.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the notion that all waiting in healthcare signifies inefficiency or failure.
• To explore the concept of 'waiting' as an integral and sometimes necessary component of quality patient care.
• To examine specific examples of care practices where waiting is essential.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of healthcare practices involving waiting.
• Case studies focusing on chronic illness management in general practice, mental health crises in young people, and care for trans and gender-questioning youth.
• Theoretical exploration of time, relationality, and care within the NHS.

Main Results:

• Identified three key areas where waiting is a crucial element of care: chronic illness, youth mental health, and transgender healthcare.
• Demonstrated that waiting can be a deliberate, patient, and ethically sound aspect of medical practice, not solely an indicator of system failure.
• Highlighted the need to move beyond efficiency-driven models to appreciate the "untimeliness" inherent in compassionate care.

Conclusions:

• Rethinking the perception of waiting in healthcare is essential for understanding and improving patient experiences.
• Effective healthcare requires acknowledging and supporting the "waiting" inherent in complex care, rather than solely focusing on speed and efficiency.
• Adequate resources and a nuanced understanding of time are vital for the flourishing of both the NHS and its users.