The overall waiting list for elective NHS treatment in England has reached a new record, with more people facing delays of up to 18 months.
The figure of 7.77 million at the end of September is slightly higher than the figure of 7.75 million at the end of August, according to NHS England. However, officials say the number is actually 6.5 million unique patients because many patients are waiting for more than one treatment. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made cutting waiting lists one of his top priorities, but opposition MPs said the latest figures show his promise has “fallen to pieces”.
The figures come as it emerged hospitals in England will be allowed to cut back on some planned procedures to help cover the costs of NHS strikes. The unprecedented strike, which has wreaked havoc on the NHS since December last year, has left England’s health service with a bill of more than £1 billion. However, it is clear that only four-fifths of costs are covered by other sources, and one of the measures proposed to balance the books is to reduce pre-planned care.
The British Medical Association is currently in talks with officials to end industrial disputes that have led to the disappearance of both junior doctors and consultants in recent months. The BMA said there would be no further industrial action while negotiations continued.
Meanwhile, the latest performance figures also show that at the end of September, some 10,201 people in England were waiting more than 18 months to start elective hospital treatment, up from 8,998 at the end of August. The Government and NHS England have set a target of eliminating waiting times in excess of 18 months by April this year, except for exceptionally complex cases or patients who choose to wait longer.
Annual delays fell slightly, with 391,122 people in England waiting more than 52 weeks for elective hospital treatment at the end of September, compared with 396,643 at the end of August. The Government and NHS England have set a target of eliminating all waits of more than a year by March 2025.
The number of patients treated in the emergency department within four hours fell to 70.2 percent from 71.6 percent in September. In December 2022, this number reached a record low of 65.2 percent. The NHS recovery plan aims to admit, transfer or discharge 76 per cent of emergency department patients within four hours by March 2024.
Dr Tim Cooksley, former president of the Society of Emergency Medicine, said the performance data “shows a downward spiral, meaning long waiting times for patients, worsening care on wards and inevitable damage in the coming winter months”.
He said: “In the short term we will find ourselves in a new chaotic and dangerous situation, and many hospitals are already experiencing this, for which there is no easy solution.” departments, which is truly devastating for patients.
“We have all expressed continued serious concern that the recovery plan is behind schedule. At the heart of the problem there remain significant labor and capacity shortages.”
GPs in England made a total of 257,702 urgent cancer referrals in September, down 4 per cent on August but up 1 per cent year-on-year compared to September 2022. I went to see a specialist two weeks after the diagnosis was made. The number of people receiving urgent referrals from their GP fell from 74.8 per cent in August to 74.0 per cent in September, well below the target of 93 per cent. The 93 per cent figure is one of several cancer rates that need to be stopped as part of an agreement between the government and NHS England to tighten performance standards.
Some 59.3% of cancer patients who received their first treatment in September after an urgent referral from their GP waited less than two months, down from 62.8% in August, according to NHS England. The target is 85 percent and will remain a key cancer indicator even after the tightening of performance standards that begins with the October targets.
Meanwhile, 69.7 percent of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer were diagnosed with cancer or excluded from treatment within 28 days, up from 71.6 percent a month earlier. The target is 75 percent, and this remains one of the performance standards.
Minesh Patel, head of policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “It is disappointing to see waiting times for cancer testing and treatment in England have worsened again. These delays can have a devastating impact on people’s lives and lead to a worse prognosis. The UK Government must take cancer seriously, investing in the workforce to ensure that all people with cancer receive the treatment they urgently need.”
Major A&E departments experienced their busiest October on record, with 2.2 million people visiting A&E departments, according to NHS England. It was also the busiest month of the year, according to emergency services.
The average response time for ambulances in England dealing with the most urgent incidents, defined as calls from people with life-threatening illness or injury, was eight minutes and 40 seconds in October, according to the NHS. This is an increase from eight minutes and 31 seconds in September and exceeds the standard response time target of seven minutes.
Last month, ambulances took an average of 41 minutes and 40 seconds to respond to emergency calls such as heart attacks, strokes and sepsis. This is an increase from 37 minutes and 38 seconds in September, with a target of 18 minutes.
Response times for urgent calls such as late labor, minor burns and diabetes averaged two hours, 31 minutes and five seconds in October, up from two hours, 15 minutes and 59 seconds in September.
Health officials also said they are trying to take steps to streamline services for patients with different needs, such as consolidating appointments to reduce the number of hospital visits.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of the NHS, said the NHS had made progress on three recovery plans despite ongoing pressure.
He said: “It is important to recognize the incredible efforts of staff who are seeing and treating many more people than before the pandemic – carrying out a record number of diagnostic tests and screenings, treating more people for early cancer and completing thousands of additional studies. Routine procedures.
“However, these strikes have had a significant impact on patients and staff and come with an inevitable financial cost. That’s why we’ve outlined steps communities can take to protect patient safety and prioritize emergency services so patients receive the best care. possible medical care this winter, while the focus of planning activities should be on long waiting times and patients requiring emergency care and cancer.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.