NHS ‘creaking at seams’ as problems spread beyond A&E
Waiting time targets breached, bed blocking on the increase, a third more operations cancelled than a year previously – the latest survey of the NHS by the Kings Fund think tank makes sombre reading.
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Covering the period October-December 2014, the latest quarterly monitoring report from the Kings Fund concludes that hospitals are “stretched to the limits”.
Waiting times up
It found that only 83.5 per cent of cancer patients received treatment within 62 days of urgent referral from their GP – the lowest proportion since the current target came in.
The proportion of inpatients waiting longer than 18 weeks for treatment was up 12.5 in November – the highest since the target was introduced in 2008.
The target that no more than 5 per cent of outpatients should wait longer than 18 weeks for treatment was breached for the first time since 2008.
The reports notes that these missed targets are partly the result of the government’s policy of allowing a “managed breach” of the 18 week targets to help clear a backlog of patients who have been waiting a long time.
Delays and cancellations
The number of delayed discharges from hospitals – so-called bed blocking – went up sharply in November, to more than 5,000 per day; an increase of almost 20 per cent on January.
The number of cancelled operations between November 2014 and January 2015 was up by a third on the same period a year earlier.
More than 40 per cent of the 73 trust finance directors who responded said their trust will end the year in deficit. Yet over three-quarters said their trust is planning to increase the number of permanent nursing staff over the next six months, as hopsitals prioritise patient care above balancing the books.
Commenting on the findings, Kings Fund Chief Economist John Appleby said described the situation as “critical” saying “Taken together, the findings from this quarter’s report show that services are stretched to the limit.
“With financial problems also endemic among hospitals, and staff more a significant cause for concern, the situation is now critical.”
Increased funding
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “The NHS is busier than ever which is why we have given almost £1bn this year for almost 800 more doctors, 4,700 more nurses, 6,400 more beds and treatment for an extra 100,000 patients.
“We are backing the NHS’ plan for the future and have provided an extra £2bn in funding next year to transform out of hospital care, and expect trusts to have strong financial grip to help achieve this.”
Shadow Health Minister Jamie Reed said: “The A&E crisis is intensifying and spreading to other parts of the NHS. This is down to the Government’s failure to get a grip on it.