NHS waiting lists reach 10 year high

Official data shows that over 200,000 patients have been waiting for procedures and operations for six months or more and frustrated health workers have slammed the NHS England statistics, warning that there were neither the staff nor the resources to cope with the pressure.

NHS England figures released today showed that over 200,000 patients in England are now waiting for longer than six months for treatment; in May 4.08 million patients were waiting to start treatment, and June was the second busiest month ever recorded in A&E.

Under the NHS Constitution, patients should be given a timeframe of under 18 weeks to undergo a procedure, after being referred by their consultant. However, figures for the month of May show that only 88 per cent of patients were seen within this timeframe.

The Royal College of Surgeons has branded the figures as ‘unacceptable’ and the union’s senior vice president Susan Hill, said “It is extremely stressful for patients and their families to have to wait this long.

“These patients will be in severe pain and discomfort, possibly unable to work or carry out daily tasks.

Not enough has been said about how the NHS plans to deal with the backlog of patients that built up over last winter.

“Hospitals must get their waiting lists under control before the next winter creeps up and we find ourselves in an even worse position.”

Chief of the Royal College of Nursing Janet Davies, said “A&E admissions are climbing as the temperature soars, and there are neither the staff nor the resources to cope.

“These figures should leave the new Health Secretary in no doubt as to the scale of the task ahead of him.

“The NHS barely scraped through last winter, and only then by cancelling thousands of non-urgent operations.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence compensation claims, and have obtained substantial compensation for our clients. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Freephone : 0800 304 738