Worsening Hospital Waiting Times Revealed by BBC News
In a recent analysis by BBC News, it has been revealed that nearly a quarter of hospitals in England have seen waiting times worsen since the government published its plan to tackle the healthcare backlog a year ago. This concerning trend is impacting patient care and access to essential treatments, leaving many in pain and struggling to receive timely medical attention.
The Impact on Patients
Mary Waterhouse, a 72-year-old from Blackpool, is one of the many patients affected by these delays. Suffering from arthritis, Mary has been receiving treatment at Blackpool Hospitals NHS Trust since 2022. Despite initial steroid injections, her condition worsened, leading to her being referred back to the waiting list in late 2024. She had to wait eight months for an assessment, by which time her health had deteriorated to the point where she was told she would need hip and knee replacements on both sides.
Opting against treatment, Mary shared her experience: "My arthritis was too advanced – and it was too many operations. I have decided to live with the pain. I had long waits at every stage since first being referred. It's like being in a never-ending queue. I now rely on a mobility scooter to get about – I can only walk short distances with crutches. If I had received quicker treatment, things may have been better."
Arthritis UK's Perspective
Deborah Alsina, Chief Executive of Arthritis UK, highlighted that Mary's case is typical of the problems faced by thousands of people with arthritis. She emphasized that timely treatment can be "life-changing," but there is not equitable access to care. Blackpool Hospitals NHS Trust acknowledged the long waits, with Chief Executive Maggie Oldham stating, "We know we're not where we need to be, but we're continuing to work hard alongside our partners to address the issues we're facing urgently."
National Progress vs. Local Challenges
While there has been some national progress, with the proportion of patients waiting less than 18 weeks improving from 59.2% to 61.8%, and the waiting list size falling to 7.31 million, local differences in performance are stark. BBC analysis compared current performance with the position 12 months ago at all but two hospital trusts, revealing that 31 trusts have gone backwards and another 17 have made little progress.
East Cheshire and Barnsley
East Cheshire has seen the biggest drop, going from 61.2% of patients waiting less than 18 weeks to 51.2%. Barnsley saw a drop of nine percentage points, while Whittington Health and Epsom and St Helier NHS trusts experienced falls of around five percentage points. NHS trusts cited various factors, including staffing shortages, doctor strikes, and problems with IT systems.
Government's Plan and Targets
The government has made improving waiting times its key priority for the NHS, pledging to get back to hitting the 18-week waiting time target in England by March 2029. This target has not been met since 2015, requiring 92% of patients to be seen in 18 weeks. An interim national target of 65% has been set for March 2026.
Industrial Action and Staffing Issues
Strike action by resident doctors has also been a significant factor. The number of doctors walking out during industrial action has varied from place to place, further exacerbating the problem. NHS trusts have been given dedicated funding and individual targets for improvement, but the disparities in performance highlight the complexity of the challenges faced.
The Road Ahead
As the NHS continues to grapple with these issues, patients like Mary Waterhouse face uncertain futures. The government's plan to tackle the backlog and improve waiting times is crucial, but local challenges must be addressed to ensure equitable access to healthcare for all. The BBC's analysis serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action to improve the healthcare system in England.
