Patients waiting for hospital treatment could be taken off waiting lists unless their doctors intervene to convince bosses they require attention.

NHS Trusts for Swansea, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan are warning local general practitioners that appointments could be cancelled if patients do not reply to their letters.

Under pressure to cut hospital waiting times, the bodies are undertaking an administrative review by writing to people to check they wish to remain on the list.

Two letters are being sent to some patients

If there is no reply after a second letter, the trusts will contact their GPs who must then check their patients' requirements.

But doctors are angry that more paperwork is being passed onto them, and have said it should not be the job of hard-pressed medics to do the work for the hospitals.

The "validation" move has come about in a attempt to cut waiting lists by removing people who no longer require treatment.

But some family doctors have complained that the new initiatives will add to their heavy workload and it is thought patients frustrated by long waits could be offended by the check.

'Patient fury'

Morgannwg Local Medical Committee Secretary Ian Millington told the British Medical Journal: "Writing to the patient itself creates a certain amount of fury.

"If you have been waiting a year for treatment and then get a letter from the trust asking whether you still want to be treated, you will be less than happy.

Someone has to chase the patients

Ian Millington

"We have no problems with the thinking behind the trust's policy, but I don't think it should be left to the GP to do the work.

"Someone has to chase the patients... we don't have the staff to do it. It seems to be another case of extra work being dumped on to GPs."

Patient offended

Robin Williams from Swansea, who is awaiting thoratic treatment, said he felt offended by the letter.

"I felt like I was a cheat, falsifying my illness - they are trying to intimidate people to cancelling operations or going private," he said.

"I would urge [patients] to remain calm, don't get upset. Send it back within the time period."

Swansea NHS Trust Corporate Development Director Andrew Bellamy said he was trying to keep records up-to-date and provide a better service, eliminating resource wastage.

He admitted patients will have often moved and miss the letters but, he said, GPs would still know how to contact them.

There have been no official complaints from patients, and he said the checks would keep "unnecessary" waiting list additions to a minimum.