Latest figures show NHS waiting lists decreased slightly for the fourth month in a row in January, but remained high - prompting the Royal College of Surgeons to call for reform and increased investment to tackle the issues.
NHS performance data (published 14 March) shows the waiting list for consultant-led hospital treatment in England fell to 7.58 million at the end of January 2024. Some patients are on multiple pathways. The number of unique patients is estimated to be around 6.32 million, according to NHS England. The RCS England points out that patients will be waiting for orthopaedic operations such as hip and knee replacements and general surgeries such as hernia repairs and gallbladder removal, while some patients will also be waiting for surgery to remove cancerous tumours.
Performance against the 18 week target continues to be the worst for ear, nose and throat treatment, as figures continue to show variation in performance by different medical and surgical specialty.
Responding to the performance data, Mr Tim Mitchell, President of RCS England and consultant Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeon said: "No area of healthcare is immune to the immense challenges facing the NHS. Waiting times for outpatient appointments are particularly high as there is a large backlog. That means patients are waiting longer for treatments such as ear, nose or throat surgery - like fitting grommets to improve hearing in children - and surgeons are struggling to keep up with demand.
“It is imperative that in the upcoming general election political parties set out detailed plans for how they will properly fund and support ongoing reform of the NHS. This includes continuing with NHS plans to reform outpatient services and supporting the roll-out of dedicated surgical hubs which help to protect operating theatres and staff time for patients requiring planned surgery.
“These changes are vital for making sure patients are not left waiting in limbo. Long waits for patients waiting for ear, nose or throat treatment can mean hearing problems, pain, infections, and a reduced quality of life.”
NHS performance statistics on referral to treatment waiting times are available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2023-24/
