NHS patient care deteriorating

51 per cent of NHS trust finance directors think patient care in their area has worsened over the last year, while just six per cent said it has improved.

The King’s Fund new quarterly monitoring report reveals that a seven-year squeeze on NHS and social care budgets is taking a toll on patient care. Analysis for the report suggests the NHS is ‘heading into winter on a knife edge’, with performance worse than at this time last year against a number of key indicators: 89.7 per cent of A&E patients were seen within four hours in September compared to 90.6 per cent the previous year, despite a major drive to improve performance; 89.4 per cent of patients waiting for treatment in August had been waiting up to 18 weeks for treatment in August, compared to 90.9 per cent in August last year, missing the target of 92 per cent; and emergency admissions are three per cent higher in September compared to the same last year.

The report also reveals that NHS finances remain shaky, despite the injection of emergency funding and the application of tough new financial controls. 45 per cent of NHS trusts expect to meet their financial targets this year, while commissioners are being forced to make tough decisions to reduce spending.

Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst at The King’s Fund, said: “The fact that half of NHS trusts think patient care in their area has been getting worse is sobering and shows that the NHS funding pressures are now having a real impact on the people using its services.

“This is happening despite the herculean efforts of staff and NHS leaders working to maintain standards of care under huge pressure.

“This should be a warning for the Chancellor as he prepares the Budget. Funding growth for the NHS is planned to slow to a near halt next year, so without additional funding waiting times for hospital treatment will get longer and the deterioration in patient care is set to continue.”