Biggest ever waiting list as general election looms
The best way for the next government to reduce waiting times will be steadily and patiently, by keeping up with demand. Not with a blitz of waiting list initiatives.
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RTT waits at 24 weeks as long waits deteriorate sharply
August saw a sudden increase in elective waiting times, putting at risk the NHS Long Term Plan's promise of choice at six months.
Majority of local services are now breaching 18 weeks
At the end of July, less than 49 per cent of hospital services were achieving the 18 week RTT target.
Hitting RTT target now almost ‘a minority sport’
Waiting times improved in June, but the underlying waiting list pressures kept growing as activity remained short of demand.
Waiting times reach 23 weeks as admissions falter
Elective waiting times have risen from 22 weeks to 23 weeks over the last 14 months, and there is still no end in sight. The target, of course, is just 18 weeks.
Should pilot sites ‘go dark’ while testing new A&E measures?
The arguments for 'going dark' look weak, compared with the damage to official statistics and public confidence in them.
18 weeks “no longer important”?
English waiting times will continue to grow, indefinitely, until the NHS gets closer to keeping up with demand.
Success on one-year waits, but waiting list grows to record-breaking size
The English NHS achieved its important ambition to halve the number of one year waiters during 2018-19. However the underlying waiting list continued to grow, reaching record levels and frustrating the other main ambition for elective waits.
Waiting list grows 7.3 per cent
The English waiting list is still growing, and the admission rate still faltering, despite the promises and plans.
We are taking the wrong approach to beds and bed occupancy
A better understanding of risk will underpin the case for reducing today's high bed occupancies.