NHS England Reports Increase in Patient Appointments

NHS England Reports Increase in Patient Appointments

NHS England has published data indicating that the number of appointments for patients waiting for NHS treatments in England rose by nearly 19,000 to 7.42 million in March. This increase reverses a trend of gradual decreases observed since last September, when the waiting list peaked at 7.7 million appointments.

Key Statistics

  • The waiting list had decreased by around 300,000 from its peak and was on track to fall below seven million before this month’s rise.
  • Before the pandemic, the waiting list stood at approximately 4.5 million appointments.

Statements from NHS Officials

Prof Sir Stephen Powis commented on the situation:

  • "In March, we saw a particularly sharp rise in referrals — yet staff still managed to deliver more for patients with over 100,000 more treatments delivered than before."
  • He encouraged anyone with health concerns to seek care promptly.

Powis also noted that:

  • There were fewer operations carried out in March compared to February due to staff absences caused by illness or self-isolation following positive Covid tests or close contact notifications.
  • "Staff have been working incredibly hard throughout this period — including many who have been off sick themselves — and I want to thank them all for their dedication."

Operational Figures

  • A total of 1.4 million elective operations were carried out in March, compared to just under 1.5 million in February.
  • Nearly 2.8 million diagnostic tests were performed in March, down from 2.9 million in February.

Waiting Times

  • The number of people waiting over six months fell slightly from 1.5 million at the end of February to 1.4 million at the end of March.
  • Those waiting over nine months decreased from 300,000 to 290,000 during the same period.

This data highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the NHS while also showcasing the efforts of healthcare staff to manage patient care amidst rising demand.

FacebooktwitterlinkedinrssyoutubeFacebooktwitterlinkedinrssyoutube
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *