Hospitals are planning weekend clinics as a way of cutting soaring out-patient waiting lists.

Specialists at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, the Radcliffe Infirmary and the Churchill Hospital hope to reduce queues by inviting patients to attend on Saturdays. The move comes despite staff shortages which have left the hospitals without one-in-ten of their nurses.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn last week ordered hospitals to take a more flexible approach to suit people who find it difficult to attend during the week. In Oxford, the number of patients waiting over the recommended 13 weeks is double the Oxford Radcliffe Trust's target figure. In September, 2,888 patients had been waiting more than three months for their first consultation - well above the target figure of 1,482.

The Trust has already taken steps to cut its lengthy appointment queues and weekend clinics have already taken place at the Radcliffe Infirmary.

Last year, ear, nose and throat consultants and eye specialists took part in "extended weeks", which included twilight shifts in the evenings and weekend clinics.

The Radcliffe Infirmary's director of operations, Jan Elliott, said the system might be reinstated. She said: "Unfortunately, we can't run the scheme on a sustained basis if it's not properly resourced. "We have looked at how best to use the resources we've got, which means we have to look at not only how staff are working, but their stress levels, too. We are working out a strategy."

The Oxford Radcliffe Hospital Trust director of nursing and patient services, Tricia Hart, said: "We will be looking at doing more of these late nights, but the difficulty will be recruitment."

Last week, Oxfordshire Health Authority announced it would ask out-patients on waiting lists for more than three months if they still needed treatment, in an attempt to cut numbers.

Story date: Monday 29 November

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