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| NHS waiting times for elective surgery spiked last year, report finds | NHS waiting times for elective surgery spiked last year, report finds |
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| Delays faced by patients for common forms of surgery increased sharply last year, with those referred for hernia repairs or removal of cataracts, tonsils or adenoids now waiting about a month longer than in 2010, NHS statistics show. | Delays faced by patients for common forms of surgery increased sharply last year, with those referred for hernia repairs or removal of cataracts, tonsils or adenoids now waiting about a month longer than in 2010, NHS statistics show. |
| The waiting time for seven key procedures in England now ranges from 91 days, for gallstone removal, to 107 days, for a knee replacement. In just a year, the average waiting time for cataracts removal rose by a third (24 days) compared with 2013. | The waiting time for seven key procedures in England now ranges from 91 days, for gallstone removal, to 107 days, for a knee replacement. In just a year, the average waiting time for cataracts removal rose by a third (24 days) compared with 2013. |
| The Patients Association, which is publishing the data online on Saturday, said its analysis suggests 50,000 people waited longer than 18 weeks for at least one of the procedures, which also included hip replacement, last year. Under the NHS constitution everyone has a right to receive elective surgical treatment within 18 weeks after being referred by their GP. | The Patients Association, which is publishing the data online on Saturday, said its analysis suggests 50,000 people waited longer than 18 weeks for at least one of the procedures, which also included hip replacement, last year. Under the NHS constitution everyone has a right to receive elective surgical treatment within 18 weeks after being referred by their GP. |
| The Patients Association chief executive, Katherine Murphy, said it was time to change things and see beyond the statistics to the human cost. | The Patients Association chief executive, Katherine Murphy, said it was time to change things and see beyond the statistics to the human cost. |
| “There’s been a big jump in the waiting times,” she said. “That’s bad enough for someone who’s waiting for surgery in any of these areas but especially for someone who’s waiting for hip operation or cataracts removal when it can impact on their life in a serious way. | “There’s been a big jump in the waiting times,” she said. “That’s bad enough for someone who’s waiting for surgery in any of these areas but especially for someone who’s waiting for hip operation or cataracts removal when it can impact on their life in a serious way. |
| “While we acknowledge the pressures on the NHS, finances should never ever be a reason for anything to be delayed or stopped in healthcare. These figures should remind commissioners and politicians that they need to take steps to increase the efficiency of provision.” | “While we acknowledge the pressures on the NHS, finances should never ever be a reason for anything to be delayed or stopped in healthcare. These figures should remind commissioners and politicians that they need to take steps to increase the efficiency of provision.” |
| The report is the latest evidence that the NHS is struggling to cope with demand amid structural and financial upheaval, despite David Cameron’s 2011 pledge to ensure waiting times remained low. | The report is the latest evidence that the NHS is struggling to cope with demand amid structural and financial upheaval, despite David Cameron’s 2011 pledge to ensure waiting times remained low. |
| It confirms the group’s findings in previous years of a postcode lottery. For example, in London the average waiting time for cataract removal is 85 days, compared with 102 in the south of England. | It confirms the group’s findings in previous years of a postcode lottery. For example, in London the average waiting time for cataract removal is 85 days, compared with 102 in the south of England. |
| At a trust level, the differences are even starker. The average patient waited 64 days on average for a knee replacement in Bolton (231 procedures carried out) compared with 203 days at Barts NHS trust (319 procedures carried out). In March, Barts was put into special measures after inspectors uncovered an array of serious problems at one of its hospitals. | At a trust level, the differences are even starker. The average patient waited 64 days on average for a knee replacement in Bolton (231 procedures carried out) compared with 203 days at Barts NHS trust (319 procedures carried out). In March, Barts was put into special measures after inspectors uncovered an array of serious problems at one of its hospitals. |
| Despite the variation, every trust bar one reported some of its patients had waited more than 18 weeks for one or more of the seven procedures. Under the NHS constitution, where it is not possible to carry out surgery within 18 weeks the person responsible for commissioning treatment is required to investigate and offer a range of suitable alternative providers. | Despite the variation, every trust bar one reported some of its patients had waited more than 18 weeks for one or more of the seven procedures. Under the NHS constitution, where it is not possible to carry out surgery within 18 weeks the person responsible for commissioning treatment is required to investigate and offer a range of suitable alternative providers. |
| In 2010, the year covered by the Patients Association’s first report on elective surgery, none of the procedures had an average waiting time of more than 90 days whereas now they all do. | In 2010, the year covered by the Patients Association’s first report on elective surgery, none of the procedures had an average waiting time of more than 90 days whereas now they all do. |
| In February, the NHS revealed that almost 20,000 patients had their operations cancelled at the last minute in the last three months of 2014 as the NHS struggled to cope with the onset of winter causing overcrowded A&Es and bed shortages. It was the highest number for 13 years and 23% up on the equivalent period in 2013. | In February, the NHS revealed that almost 20,000 patients had their operations cancelled at the last minute in the last three months of 2014 as the NHS struggled to cope with the onset of winter causing overcrowded A&Es and bed shortages. It was the highest number for 13 years and 23% up on the equivalent period in 2013. |
| An NHS England spokesperson said: “Waits for an NHS operation remain close to an all time low - down from a maximum wait of 18 months over a decade ago to 18 weeks now, with the average wait less than 10 weeks. That is why public satisfaction with the NHS is near to its all time high.” |