I WOULD like to respond to your article entitled “NHS waiting times ‘up’ in York and North Yorkshire”

published on your website on December 27.

We refute the claim that the number of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment has risen by 26 per cent in our area since the last general election.

In May 2010, 4,120 patients in North Yorkshire and York were admitted to hospital for treatment and 93 per cent were admitted within 18 weeks of referral. The national standard requires at least 90 per cent to be admitted within 18 weeks.

In October 2011, the latest month for which data is available, 4,583 of our patients were admitted to hospital and again 93 per cent of these patients were treated within 18 weeks of referral – despite 11 per cent more patients being admitted.

If we look at patients who are treated in hospital without the need for an admission, the picture is similar.

In May 2010, 11,905 patients were treated and 98 per cent of these were within 18 weeks of referral.

The national standard requires at least 95 per cent of these patients to be treated within 18 weeks.

In October 2011, 12,511 patients were treated and again, 98 per cent of these patients were within 18 weeks of referral – despite there being five per cent more patients treated in October 2011 than May 2010.

NHS North Yorkshire and York continues to meet and exceed the national waiting times standards for hospital treatment while ensuring that increasing numbers of patients are able to access the hospital care that they need.

Bill Redlin, director of standards, NHS North Yorkshire and York