Waiting Time Calculations for QM08 and QM08R

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The following table provides a comparison of the waiting time calculations for Central Returns QM08 and QM08R. The coverage of the returns is for PATIENTS waiting for a first OUT-PATIENT APPOINTMENT CONSULTANT. Key parts of the central returns focus on the sub-set of these PATIENTS that were referred by GENERAL PRACTITIONERS.

Waiting Time Event	Calculation needed for QM08 and QM08R
Start of waiting time.	The waiting time starts from the date on which the original provider received the referral request, the ORIGINAL REFERRAL REQUEST RECEIVED DATE
PATIENT offered an APPOINTMENT DATE but refuses.	As with the inpatient returns, so long as the offer was a reasonable one (sufficient amount of notice and taking into account personal circumstances) this counts as a 'self-deferral'. The out-patient waiting time is reset to zero, and starts again from the APPOINTMENT DATE the PATIENT refused.
PATIENT offered an APPOINTMENT DATE but does not attend.	Once again this is a 'self-deferral'. The Out-patient waiting time is reset to zero, and starts again from the APPOINTMENT DATE the PATIENT refused.
PATIENT offered an APPOINTMENT DATE, but the provider cancels this.	This has no affect on the waiting time - i.e. it should continue from the ORIGINAL REFERRAL REQUEST RECEIVED DATE.
Organisational change (e.g. Trusts merge)	The waiting time is unaffected - i.e. it should continue from the date the ORIGINAL REFERRAL REQUEST RECEIVED DATE.
End of waiting time.	The PATIENT is removed from out-patient Waiting list on the ATTENDANCE DATE when the PATIENT was seen.