GLASGOW'S hospitals have defended their record after failing to hit day surgery targets set more than 10 years ago.

In 1998 health boards across Scotland were told to increase the number of patients who had operations and were released on the same day.

But the city still cannot offer day surgery for a list of procedures in the numbers it was supposed to achieve at that time.

Auditor Robert Black said up to £8million a year could be saved across the country if more patients were seen and discharged on the same day, freeing up staff and beds.

He said: "It's long been recognised that day surgery benefits patients through promoting a speedy recovery and minimising the disruption that an overnight stay in hospital can have on people's lives."

The targets say 95% of women who have a pregnancy terminated should return home the same day but Glasgow achieves this in fewer than 60% of cases.

According to the 1998 targets, 65% of women having breast lumps removed should go home the same day. In Glasgow the figure was closer to 55%.

And just a quarter of people who had varicose veins treated are discharged by the end of a shift, far below the 40% target.

Mr Black said: "Day surgery should be the preferred option where it provides better and more acceptable care for patients, or where the care is the same standard but the cost is lower."

Today a health board spokeswoman said: "Our day surgery rates are set to increase further following the opening of the new Stobhill and Victoria Hospitals in 2009."

Thursday 4th September 2008

By John McCann

Reproduced with the permission of The Evening Times, Glasgow © 2008 Herald & Times Group