News

10.04.17

Number of people waiting 18 weeks or more for surgery could double by 2020

The number of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for planned surgery could double by 2020, analysis of NHS England figures by the NHS Partners Network (NHSPN) has today warned.

After looking at the data, NHSPN forecast that on current trends, the number of people waiting more than 18 weeks for surgery would more than double, going up from 360,000 today to over 800,000 people.

NHSPN urged people to exercise their legal right to choose what hospital provides their care, whether it’s in the independent or public sector.

Though the NHS Choice Framework states that patients have the legal right to choose where they receive treatment, NHS England figures show that only 47% of people are aware of this right, meaning that thousands of patients are potentially missing out on opportunities to be treated more quickly.

Today’s news follows NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens admitting that some patients may face longer waiting times for non-urgent surgery in what was described as a ‘trade-off’ to ensure improvements to care was delivered in other areas.

Health organisations have been particularly vocal in urging the government to act to lessen growing waiting times in different parts of the NHS, as patients were having to wait so long in A&Es that corridors had become “the new emergency wards”.

David Hare, chief executive of the NHSPN, said: “As NHS England’s Five Year Forward View Next Steps document highlights, the NHS is currently under significant pressure and is desperately short of elective capacity.”

He added that due to the NHS relaxing its commitment to treating NHS patients within 18 weeks, it was vital that patients were aware of their right to choose which provider they are treated by in order to ensure that they can access treatment more quickly.

“This includes independent sector providers who, on average, treat NHS patients six days earlier compared to NHS providers and offer services to patients paid for at NHS prices, to NHS standards and free at the point-of-use,” Hare added.

“Unless action is taken, patients will face unacceptably long waits for treatment which not only leaves them in pain for longer than required, but could also lead to medical complications.”

The NHSPN executive concluded by calling on the government to make the public more aware of their rights when it came to treatment for surgery so that waiting times were reduced for more people.

An NHS England spokesperson said: “Since the early 2000s, we've more than doubled the number of NHS hip and knee operations, and expect yet further growth in non-urgent surgery over the next few years. 

“Most NHS operations are now done in well under 12 weeks, and patients will continue to be able to choose where their operation takes place.”

Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become an NHE columnist? If so, click here. 

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest news

View all News

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental ... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Bei... more >

editor's comment

26/06/2020Adapting and Innovating

Matt Roberts, National Health Executive Editorial Lead. NHE May/June 2020 Edition We’ve been through so much as a health sector and a society in recent months with coronavirus and nothing can take away from the loss and difficulties that we’ve faced but it vital we also don’t disregard the amazing efforts we’ve witnessed. Staff have gone above and beyond, whole hospitals and trusts have flexed virtually at will to meet demand and pressures and we’ve... read more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us throu more > more last word articles >

interviews

Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual... more >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side wi... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >

healthcare events

events calendar

back

September 2020

forward
mon tue wed thu fri sat sun
31 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11

featured articles

View all News