The reduction in target numbers to 18 is a reassuring signal of this healthy balance. A new approach to measuring and understanding waiting times came into effect at the beginning of 2008, called the “New Ways of Defining and Measuring Waiting Lists” (known as “Afew Ways”) (ISD Scotland, 2007). New Ways sets out new guidance on how NHS Boards should manage patients’ waits and how' to measure and report waiting times consistently.