NHS waiting times at 3 year high

20^th April 2011 - Strains on NHS budgets in England are beginning to show, resulting in the longest waiting times in three years, according to a new report.

The independent health charity The King's Fund, used NHS figures and data from a panel of NHS finance directors. It says seasonal factors alone are not enough to explain changes in the figures.

NHS 'snapshot'

The King's Fund research found:

• In February 2011, nearly 15% of hospital inpatients waited over 18 weeks for treatment. That's the highest level since 2008.
• Most of the finance directors questioned said they are unlikely to meet productivity targets in 2011/12.
• Nearly half identified ward closures and cuts in services among the ways of meeting productivity targets.
• The proportion of patients waiting more than four hours in A&E rose sharply at the end of 2010 to 3.5%, the highest level since 2004/05.

Some good news

• The proportion of patients waiting more than six weeks for diagnostic services fell back in February, reversing a steady increase since June 2010.
• Levels of hospital-acquired infections have fallen to their lowest level in recent years, while delays in transferring patients out of hospital remain stable.

NHS 'health check'

In a statement, Professor John Appleby, Chief Economist at The King’s Fund says the report: "highlights significant concern among NHS finance directors - who are well placed to report on the stresses in the system - about the prospects for the year ahead. With hospital waiting times rising, the NHS faces a considerable challenge in maintaining performance as the financial squeeze begins to bite."

NHS: 'A good year'

Reacting to the King's Fund report in a statement, David Flory, Deputy Chief Executive of the NHS, says: "The NHS had a good year last year in spite of an exceptionally cold winter. Average waiting times remain low and broadly stable; just nine weeks for admitted patients and 3.5 weeks for outpatients.

"People with cancer symptoms continue to see a specialist quickly, MRSA and C.difficile rates are at their lowest level since records began, and the NHS has achieved a healthy financial surplus in line with its plans. This is a great credit to NHS staff and good news for patients."

Flory continues: "The Government is currently conducting a listening exercise with NHS staff, patients and others on how best to modernise the NHS to maintain and improve high standards whilst meeting the growing demand."

Other NHS 'efficiencies'

Earlier this month, the Patients Association expressed concern at reports via its helpline that some English primary care trusts (PCTs) were stopping prescriptions for 56 days and only allowing them to be issued for 28 days of medication. This means patients who pay for prescriptions can end up paying  twice as much for the same treatment. In a statement, Patients Association trustee, Roswyn Hakesley-Brown said:  "Along with the recent rise in prescription charges in England of 20p, this is a stealth tax on the sick, this means many patients who have long-term conditions and need multiple prescriptions, will have to pay more money and also pay more often for the vital medicines they need.

Patients who are particularly frail are going to have the burden and inconvenience of going to their pharmacists more often to have their prescriptions filled. Not only does this issue affect patients but GPs will have to spend more time writing prescriptions."