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NHS figures have revealed that the number of people waiting for routine surgery in England is at the highest level it has been for a decade (1 September 2017)

Date: 01/09/2017
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, NHS figures have revealed that the number of people waiting for routine surgery in England is at the highest level it has been for a decade

3.83 million people are currently waiting to have surgery, but the NHS believe that missing data from the six trusts that didn’t participate means the figure is more likely to be “just over four million patients.”

Some doctors fear that this reflects an increasing strain on the NHS, and are concerned that there is no end in sight to these lengthy treatment delays, something that is particularly worrying as we approach winter. Derek Alderson, who is president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said:

“This is the real-life impact of an NHS under severe pressure. As our population increases and demand for the NHS grows, the waiting list will likely only get worse unless more action is taken.”

Alderson highlighted that the figure of approximately 4 million people on the referral to treatment (RTT) waiting list was equivalent to the population of Bristol, Liverpool and Sheffield combined and said this should serve as a “wake up call.”

Phillippa Hentsch, head of analysis at NHS Providers said:

“Even at the height of summer, the NHS is working at full stretch. The lesson here is that there is simply not enough capacity in the system to assure patient safety in the coming winter.”

These figures demonstrate that the NHS in England is failing to meet its target of operating on at least 92% of patients within 18 weeks. Since last June there has been more than a 21% increase in the numbers of people waiting longer than the 18 week target.

The missed targets for routine surgery are amongst others that the NHS is failing to meet, including the four-hour target in A&E and urgent referrals (within two months) for cancer care. Meanwhile, bed-blocking has reportedly increased, with patients spending 178,441 nights in hospital unnecessarily, up from 173,122 in June 2016.

Healthcare officials have responded to the “shocking” figures by calling the system “unsustainable”. Danny Mortimer, deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said:

“We simply do not have the resources to deliver what the public now expects.”

Dr Mark Holland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said that the latest figures were “shocking”, and that they demonstrate “another damning indictment of the crisis we are experiencing in the NHS.”

Divya Anand Clinical Negligence Solicitor at Duncan Lewis Solicitor states:

“This is an ongoing concern for many Trusts in the UK. We have dealt with numerous enquiries relating to delays in operating and providing timely appointments for urgent treatment which can sometimes, lead to devastating consequences for the patient. We encourage setting targets but can only hope that these are eventually met.”

Divya Anand, is a Clinical Negligence Solicitor at Duncan Lewis who has experience with handling multiple clinical negligence claims including cerebral palsy, gynaecological claims and orthopaedic injuries.

Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence Solicitors

The Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence team has significant experience acting in a vast array of claims including accident and emergency failures, GP negligence claims, misdiagnosed fractures and other medical conditions and wrongful death claims. They also act for children and adults who have suffered profound and permanent brain, spinal or neurological injuries and associated disabilities as a consequence of failings in medical care in both NHS and private hospitals.

If you believe you have waited too long for an operation, or that your doctor has made a mistake, please do not hesitate to contact our team of expert solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

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