This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Hospitals forced to postpone non-urgent operations
The NHS has received criticism for forcing patients who need an operation to wait at least three months before they can undergo surgery in order to save money.
NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in Lincolnshire are under fire after introducing minimum waiting times for non-urgent surgery. They adopted the policy as a result of the NHS-wide cash squeeze and because they say some patients’ conditions should clear up while they wait.
Trafford CCG in greater Manchester has confirmed that it is also considering implementing a similar policy, according to the Health Service Journal (HSJ).
Cambridge and Peterborough CCG was the first to bring in minimum waits for non-urgent surgery, but it abandoned the policy two months after it was brought in.
Norman Lamb, former health minister, said: “It undermines the core principles of the NHS: that everyone should get compassionate treatment, as early as possible, when they need it. Those who can afford it will go private to skip the wait, while others will be left waiting in pain and discomfort. This is simply impossible to justify.”
Sue Hill, the Royal College of Surgeon’s vice-president, said: “We strongly urge all these CCGs to reconsider this decision. Patients in Trafford currently wait an average of 7.2 weeks for any type of treatment. If this policy were to go ahead average waiting times in Trafford would double and it is difficult to see how these targets could be achieved.”
Jon Ashworth, shadow health secretary, said: “I’m demanding Jeremy Hunt intervenes, enforces the NHS constitution and bans these minimum waiting times. Secondly, in the budget Theresa May must provide the NHS with the money it needs to end this postcode lottery of care that has developed under the Tories.”
An NHS England spokesperson said: “CCGs face difficult choices about what can be afforded within the funds parliament has made available, recognising the priority being accorded to emergency care, mental health, cancer and GP services. Last month 1.3 million patients started consultant-led elective treatment and the vast majority of patients wait less than 18 weeks.”
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