New technology to help reduce NHS waiting lists

The government has said that local surgical hubs and innovative ways of working will help the NHS to tackle growing waiting lists and treat around 30 per cent more patients who need elective care by 2023/24.

Backed by a new £36 billion investment in health and social care over the next three years, the Department of Health and Social Care says that ‘doing things differently’ and embracing innovation will be the driving force to get the NHS back on track.

It is hoped that the funding will see the NHS deliver an extra nine million checks, scans, and operations for patients across the country, but it’s not enough to simply plug the elective gaps. The NHS will push forward with faster and more streamlined methods of treatments.

Located on existing hospital sites, surgical hubs bring together the skills and resource under one roof while limiting infection risk and providing a Covid secure environment, with more planned to open in the coming year. Surgical hubs already being piloted in a number of locations, including London, are helping fast-track the number of planned operations, including cataract removal, hysterectomies and hip and knee replacements, and will be expanded across the country.

The NHS has been trialling a range of new ways of working in 12 areas, backed by £160 million, to accelerate the recovery of services. This includes setting up pop-up clinics so patients can be treated quickly, in person, and discharged closer to home, as well as virtual wards and home assessments to allow patients to receive medical support from the comfort of their home, freeing up beds in hospitals.

There are currently a record 5.5 million people waiting for non-urgent treatment and surgery, and around seven million patients in England did not come forward for treatment during the pandemic. The waiting list could potentially reach 13 million by the end of the year if left unchecked and it may take the NHS up to a decade to clear treatment backlogs without concerted action.

Health Secretary Said Javid said: “This global pandemic has presented enormous challenges for the NHS and led to a growing backlog – we cannot go on with business as usual. We are going to harness the latest technology and innovative new ways of working such as surgical hubs to deliver the millions more appointments, treatments and surgeries that are needed over the coming months and years to tackle waiting lists.”

Steve Powis, NHS England medical director, said: “Although the pandemic is still with us and we will have to live with the impact of covid for some time, the NHS has already made effective use of additional resources to recover services –– from adopting the latest technologies to more evening and weekend working, NHS staff are going to great lengths to increase the number of operations carried out.

“The further funding announced this week will support staff to deliver millions more vital checks, tests and operations, so if you have a health concern, please do come forward to receive the care and treatment you may need.”