Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Patients offered faster treatment under NHS 'final push' to slash waiting queues

The NHS Elective Recovery Plan, published earlier in 2022, showed how the health service would address Covid-19 backlogs in treatment, initially by focusing on those who have been waiting the longest.

Patients offered faster treatment under NHS 'final push' to slash waiting queues

PATIENTS are being offered faster treatment in different parts of the UK as part of an NHS (National Health Service) ‘final push’ to virtually eliminate the number waiting for two years or more.

The NHS Elective Recovery Plan, published earlier this year, set out how the health service would address Covid-19 backlogs in treatment, by initially focusing on those who have been waiting for the longest period.


Those who have waited two years or more in acute hospitals has fallen by 15,000 since a peak of 22,500 in January to 6,700.

People, who are still on the waiting list, are being asked whether they would be prepared to travel for treatment in the coming weeks.

NHS teams are pulling out all the stops to match them with a different hospital, with travel and accommodation costs available for patients where appropriate.

More than 400 patients have already said they would be prepared to travel, of which around 140 have been booked in to get their surgery at a different hospital.

The NHS set out ambitions to eliminate two-year waits by the end of July except for those patients who choose to wait longer or patients in highly specialised areas that may require a tailored plan.

NHS staff continue to make progress on Covid-19 backlogs despite the latest monthly figures showing that it was the busiest May for emergency care with 2.2 million A&E attendances and almost 78,000 of the most urgent ambulance call outs.

From weekend clinics to dedicated surgery hubs and ensuring treatment transfers can happen, the NHS staff are doing everything possible to bring down long waits for treatment for patients.

Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS, said, “As happened around the world, Covid backlogs inevitably built up as hospitals here treated more than 750,000 people with the virus as well as caring for many more in the community.

“Millions who did not seek help earlier in the pandemic are now coming forward, but thanks to the hard work of NHS staff we have made big progress on the longest waits despite Omicron and a difficult winter.

“As part of the biggest and most ambitious catch up programme in NHS history, staff are now on track to virtually eliminate two-year waiters by the end of July.

“But the NHS will not stop here, from delivering one million tests and checks through our newly rolled out community diagnostic centres to new state of the art same day hip replacements, staff are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to treat patients quicker, especially those who have been waiting a long time.

“One of the benefits of the NHS is that hospitals can work together to bring covid backlogs down together and so if people can and want to be treated quicker elsewhere in the country, NHS staff are ensuring that it can happen.

“Once again NHS staff are demonstrating the agility, resilience and compassion that shows when they are given the tools and resources they need, they deliver for our patients.”

While not everyone on the waiting list will want to travel further afield, many patients around the country are taking up the option to be seen quicker.

Three patients waiting for surgery at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust have received treatment at Northumbria Healthcare FT, with a further two booked in.

Southwest London Elective Orthopaedic Centre has already treated 17 patients from the South-West, with a further 11 patients set to receive care in the coming weeks.

Hospitals across the country are continuing to look for new and innovative way to help with elective recovery.

Patients in Lancashire are benefitting from a new state-of-the-art cataract surgery centre which is treating 35 patients a day two days a week with patients waiting just six weeks for cataract procedures.

While the NHS continues its rollout of Community Diagnostic Centres which have already delivered over one million diagnostic tests and checks since the rollout began in July last year.

Patients in Barnsley are already finding attending for diagnostic tests easier due to a new facility that the hospital has opened at Glass Works shopping centre in the town - which officially opens this week. With access to the 670 parking spaces, patients are telling staff that getting to their ultrasound or X-ray appointment is convenient and can be combined with going about their day.

More For You

Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

Air India crash probe finds fuel to engines was cut off before impact

Highlights

 
     
  • Fuel to both engines of the Air India flight was cut off seconds before the crash
  •  
  • A pilot was heard questioning the other over the cut-off; both denied initiating it.
  •  
  • The Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
  •  
  • Investigators are focusing on fuel switch movement; full analysis may take months.

FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have consistently reported Chinese research vessel presence. (Representational image: Getty Images)

Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

A Chinese research vessel was detected operating in the Bay of Bengal near Indian waters while attempting to conceal its presence by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to a report by The Economic Times, citing French maritime intelligence firm Unseenlabs.

The French company conducted a 16-day satellite-based survey tracking ships through radio frequency emissions. It monitored 1,897 vessels, with 9.6 per cent showing no AIS activity, indicating attempts to avoid detection. The survey raised concerns amid increased Chinese activity in the region.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian-inspired garden earns
five awards at Hampton Court

(From left) Malcolm Anderson (RHS, head of sustainability) Clare Matterson (RHS director general), Lorraine Bishton (Subaru UK and Ireland, managing director) Andrew Ball (director, Big Fish Landscapes) Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews with the medals

Asian-inspired garden earns five awards at Hampton Court

BRITISH Asians are being encouraged to take up gardening by a couple who have won a record five medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

“It’s a contemporary reimagining of a traditional walled garden, highlighting the British and Irish rainforests,” said Jewlsy Mathews, who was born in Britain of parents from Kerala, a southern Indian state known for its lush vegetation.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk weather

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England

iStock

England faces widespread heat alerts and hosepipe bans amid rising temperatures

Highlights:

  • Amber heat health alerts in place for large parts of England
  • Hosepipe bans announced in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex
  • Temperatures could reach 33°C over the weekend
  • Health risks rise, especially for elderly and vulnerable groups

Heat warnings in effect as UK braces for another hot weekend

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England, with temperatures expected to climb to 33°C in some areas over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated the warning at 12 pm on Friday, with it set to remain in place until 9 am on Monday.

The alerts cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, south-east, south-west, East of England, and London. Additional yellow alerts were issued for the north-east, north-west, and Yorkshire and the Humber, starting from midday Friday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Essex ladybird invasion

One of the largest gatherings was filmed on a beach at Point Clear

Dee-anne Markiewicz / SWNS

Swarms of ladybirds invade Essex coastline amid soaring temperatures

Highlights:

  • Ladybird swarms reported across Essex and Suffolk coastal towns
  • Hot weather likely driving the sudden surge in population
  • Sightings include Point Clear, Shoebury, Clacton and Felixstowe
  • Similar outbreaks occurred in 1976 during another hot UK summer

Sudden surge in ladybird numbers across the southeast

Millions of ladybirds have been spotted swarming towns and villages along the Essex coast, with similar sightings stretching into Suffolk. Residents have reported unusually high numbers of the red and black-spotted insects, particularly near coastal areas, with the recent hot weather believed to be a major contributing factor.

One of the largest gatherings was filmed on a beach at Point Clear, a village near St Osyth in Essex, where the insects could be seen piling on top of each other on driftwood and plants.

Keep ReadingShow less