Consultant's overtime

Not sure about that  but I can only say that when I had surgery privately, the surgeon had to do his private work outside the NHS surgery hours when the operating theatre was available.  My surgery was delayed by 2 hours because an emergency came in for NHS surgery.  My consultant also did NHS work in the same hospital (I was in the private wing) and had to pay, the theatre fees, the anaesthetist and the fee for the private wing out of his fee and seemed to be in the hospital from early in the morning to very late at night.

As with a lot of jobs, overtime becomes available because of sickness elsewhere on the rosta. Many is the time that I have the option to do overtime in order that a job could be finished. It was not compulsory but the boss usually appreciated it. If the situation is really bad, then 'Triple Pay' usually helps to make the mind up.

from what I read on the BBC website this is due to a shortage in consultants, but the 'average' overtime is about £150 per hour. 

My in laws both had cataract opeartions but they were done within 6 months on the NHS at the Sunderland Eye Infirmary, so it must vary from region to region

Should come over to England Fisherman.  OH waited a couple of weeks, and my mother just a month.  Don't know where "years" come into it

Shockingly poor management of resources.

Sadly typical of the 'plenty more where that came from' attitude that is prevalent when dealing with public money.

Our NHS is in "Special measures". Says it all

Most of the latest "problems" with the NHS seem to stem from a governments necessity to implement the WTD,  which now as we all know  means hours have been restricted unless you sign the waver ,  that basically means you can do as many hours "overtime" at what ever rate the "job" is willing to pay to get it done or vacancy covered , putting more financial pressure on overlooked services 

Time from the hospital receiving the referral from the GP, consultation, treatment/surgery, discharge should be no more than 18 weeks (in England, anyway), unless the patient delays for any reason, such as holiday/unrelated ill health etc.

Do you ever wonder about the targets that the NHS are set?

18 weeks to see a consultant!!

4 hours to be seen in Acceident & Emergency!!!!

Not exactly pushing them to the limit! (and even then, they regularly miss these targets)

The whole treatment pathway should be completed within 18 weeks, Ian, not 18 weeks to see a consultant.