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How long can a waiting list be?

The impact of waiting time on intention to attend child and adolescent psychiatric clinics

Combined Healthcare NHS Trust and Keele University, The Barn, Main Road, Betley, Nr Crewe, Cheshire CW3 9AB

M. Hanna, Specialist Registrar in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Mersey Deanery

AIMS AND METHODS

Quantifying the relationship between waiting time and clinic attendance in child and adolescent psychiatry would allow better estimation of the resources needed to eliminate waiting lists in specific initiatives. All cases on a waiting list were sent a questionnaire, return of the questionnaire being necessary for an appointment to be made. Those who did not return the questionnaire or did not attend were contacted and a reason obtained whenever possible. The data were analysed using Cox regression.

RESULTS

Most who did not return their questionnaires had been waiting less than four weeks or longer than 30 weeks. Questionnaire return seemed a good estimate of intention to attend. Other factors improving questionnaire return were younger patient age, previous experience of the service, a clear common reason for referral, and a non-general practitioner referral source.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Waiting lists in child and adolescent psychiatry may have a natural `end-point at 30 weeks beyond which families give up, while waiting lists of less than one-month may be too short to lose transient problems. Failure to include this and other indicators of non-attendance may lead to overestimates of resources needed to remove queues for treatment. Questionnaires may be useful in identifying those intending to attend.

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