This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Plymouth hospital closes spinal waiting list amid increasing backlog
Derriford hospital in Plymouth has said it wants to close its waiting list to people needing routine spinal operations for 12 months, claiming it cannot cope with the growing backlog of patients.
Currently, the hospital has 450 people on its waiting list for elective spinal orthopaedic surgery, with a further 1,000 patients referred for treatment. If the proposal gains approval patients will not be added to the surgery waiting list for one year starting from the 1 April.
Patients who are already on the waiting list will be offered treatment elsewhere with the accommodation and travel costs paid for. However, according to NHS England, the majority of patients have refused the compromise.
The hospital maintained that urgent and emergency spinal referrals for tumours, trauma, infections and neurological deterioration due to degenerative disease will be unaffected by the plans.
The latest data revealed that a total of 3,901 patients have waited more that the target of 18 weeks for treatment in departments across Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, with fourteen patients waiting a minimum of one year.
Joe McEvoy, NHS England south west assistant director of specialised commissioning, said: "We are working closely with Plymouth Hospitals Trust which has told us it needs time to reduce the number of people waiting for routine spinal surgery.
"Our priority is to make sure all patients are seen and treated quickly with top quality care."
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
