Cost of queues As a result of long queues, 1990:median wait times for English patients was 5 months More than 50%of patients had to wait longer than a year! There could be patients desperately needing quick care but not receiving it Long wait times a very politically sensitive issue Many reforms since then focused on reducing long wait times Bhattacharya,Hyde and Tu-HealthEconomics Bhattacharya, Hyde and Tu – Health Economics Cost of queues  As a result of long queues,  1990: median wait times for English patients was 5 months ◼ More than 50% of patients had to wait longer than a year!  There could be patients desperately needing quick care but not receiving it  Long wait times a very politically sensitive issue  Many reforms since then focused on reducing long wait times