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| NHS Health Check: Hospital op 'long waiters' rise by 163% | |
| (21 days later) | |
| The number of people facing "long waits" for hospital treatment in England has more than doubled in the past four years, figures show. | The number of people facing "long waits" for hospital treatment in England has more than doubled in the past four years, figures show. |
| Patients needing routine care such as knee and hip replacements are meant to be treated in 18 weeks under NHS rules. | Patients needing routine care such as knee and hip replacements are meant to be treated in 18 weeks under NHS rules. |
| But the numbers waiting longer than that now top 350,000 - a 163% rise since 2012. There are 3.7 million people in total on the waiting list. | But the numbers waiting longer than that now top 350,000 - a 163% rise since 2012. There are 3.7 million people in total on the waiting list. |
| The government promised the NHS would do "better in the future". | The government promised the NHS would do "better in the future". |
| Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have also seen pressures grow - meaning no part of the UK is now meeting its target to see patients. | Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have also seen pressures grow - meaning no part of the UK is now meeting its target to see patients. |
| Royal College of Surgeons president Clare Marx said the picture was "very disappointing" as these operations and treatments could make a huge difference to people's lives. | Royal College of Surgeons president Clare Marx said the picture was "very disappointing" as these operations and treatments could make a huge difference to people's lives. |
| "Someone waiting for a gall-stone removal will be in a lot of pain and discomfort. | "Someone waiting for a gall-stone removal will be in a lot of pain and discomfort. |
| "The longer you wait for a hip or knee replacement the less likely you are to have good outcomes. These waits really matter. | "The longer you wait for a hip or knee replacement the less likely you are to have good outcomes. These waits really matter. |
| "The standards of care are being eroded and we don't want it to get worse." | "The standards of care are being eroded and we don't want it to get worse." |
| But Richard Murray, from the King's Fund think tank, predicts the numbers on the waiting list will keep rising. | But Richard Murray, from the King's Fund think tank, predicts the numbers on the waiting list will keep rising. |
| The total of 3.7m is a 44% increase since 2012, but he expects to see the trend continue and break through the four million barrier by the spring. | The total of 3.7m is a 44% increase since 2012, but he expects to see the trend continue and break through the four million barrier by the spring. |
| "If you go back 15 years waiting lists were longer, but it is now heading in the wrong direction." | "If you go back 15 years waiting lists were longer, but it is now heading in the wrong direction." |
| One of those affected has been Nikki Alldis, who lives in the South East. | One of those affected has been Nikki Alldis, who lives in the South East. |
| She has been waiting 15 months for a bowel operation. It has twice been cancelled. | She has been waiting 15 months for a bowel operation. It has twice been cancelled. |
| She said the wait had been very difficult and she was "gutted" the last time it was put off in January. "It's hanging over me." | She said the wait had been very difficult and she was "gutted" the last time it was put off in January. "It's hanging over me." |
| How 'long waiters' have risen since 2012 | How 'long waiters' have risen since 2012 |
| England: Up 163% | England: Up 163% |
| Northern Ireland: Up 95% | Northern Ireland: Up 95% |
| Scotland: Up 82% | Scotland: Up 82% |
| Wales: Up 74% | Wales: Up 74% |
| The figures are the percentage rise in the number of waits over the target time for treatment in each nation | The figures are the percentage rise in the number of waits over the target time for treatment in each nation |
| The latest figures cover the month of November and mean the target for the NHS - that at least 92% of patients on waiting lists will not have been waiting over 18 weeks - has been missed since February last year. | The latest figures cover the month of November and mean the target for the NHS - that at least 92% of patients on waiting lists will not have been waiting over 18 weeks - has been missed since February last year. |
| A Department of Health spokesman said the NHS was having to treat more patients - 5,000 extra a day compared with 2010 - so the levels of performance were actually a "tribute" to the work of NHS staff. | A Department of Health spokesman said the NHS was having to treat more patients - 5,000 extra a day compared with 2010 - so the levels of performance were actually a "tribute" to the work of NHS staff. |
| He said the investment being made in the NHS this Parliament would help "transform services" and mean the NHS will do "better in the future". | He said the investment being made in the NHS this Parliament would help "transform services" and mean the NHS will do "better in the future". |
| The targets for routine treatments are measured differently in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but all show a similar picture. | The targets for routine treatments are measured differently in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but all show a similar picture. |
| In Wales, 95% of patients are supposed to start treatment within 26 weeks. This target has not been met since August 2010 and the number of long waiters has risen by 74% to 60,643 in November 2016. | In Wales, 95% of patients are supposed to start treatment within 26 weeks. This target has not been met since August 2010 and the number of long waiters has risen by 74% to 60,643 in November 2016. |
| Scotland's target is for 90% of patients to start treatment within 18 weeks. This has been missed since June 2014. The number waiting longer than 18 weeks was up 82% over that period at 16,635. | Scotland's target is for 90% of patients to start treatment within 18 weeks. This has been missed since June 2014. The number waiting longer than 18 weeks was up 82% over that period at 16,635. |
| Northern Ireland has a target of 55% per cent of patients waiting no more than 13 weeks for an operation. The number waiting longer than that was up 95% in the four years to September 2016. | Northern Ireland has a target of 55% per cent of patients waiting no more than 13 weeks for an operation. The number waiting longer than that was up 95% in the four years to September 2016. |
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