title: Clinical priorities. Points make prizes.
abstract: Assessing patients for non-urgent surgery according to a numeric priority system has rationalised waiting times in three specialties in a pilot project. Traditional scoring systems result in little relation between urgency and waiting times. Enlisting doctors' support for a scoring system takes time.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000145:classification*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014850:Waiting Lists