A significant portion of NHS trusts in England have experienced a deterioration in hospital waiting times over the past year. While NHS waits had been increasing for more than ten years under the Conservative government, recent progress is being noted. However, 31 hospital trusts have regressed in this aspect.
Labour, before assuming power in 2024, made a commitment to ensure timely treatment for planned care, like knee and hip surgeries, within 18 weeks. Data from the NHS, obtained by the BBC through Freedom of Information laws, reveals that 17 hospital trusts have made limited advancements towards meeting the 18-week target out of 129 trusts required to provide data.
The target mandates that 92% of patients should be seen within 18 weeks, with an interim national goal of 65% set for March 2026. About a year ago, the government unveiled a strategy to address the backlog when 59.2% of English patients were waiting under the 18-week period. This figure has slightly improved to 61.8%, with the overall backlog of appointments decreasing to 7.31 million, the lowest level since February 2023.
Despite overall progress, some hospitals are struggling to keep up, hindering Labour’s efforts to enhance the NHS. For instance, East Cheshire NHS Trust witnessed a significant decline in the percentage of patients seen within 18 weeks, dropping to 51% from 61% the previous year. Similarly, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust saw a decrease from 75% to 66% due to staff shortages and a rise in priority referrals.
Issues like strike actions by resident doctors have contributed to prolonged waits in certain trusts. Notably, Whittington Health NHS Trust saw a decrease from 65% to 60%, while University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust dropped from 57% to 53%. Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust also faced a decline from 65% to 61%, citing disruptions from a new electronic patient record system.
Conversely, some hospitals have made significant strides, with Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust improving by 17%, and five other trusts showing improvements ranging from 9% to 10%. Recent monthly NHS data for England indicates that the elective waiting list saw its most substantial decline in 15 years outside of the pandemic.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the government’s efforts to reduce waiting lists and improve patient care, attributing the progress to increased investment, modernization, and the dedication of NHS staff. Measures such as expanded evening and weekend appointments, enhanced community testing, and specialized surgical hubs have been implemented to expedite operations and reduce backlogs, with AI notetaking tools aiding in efficiency.