Elective waits rise again in a wasted August
Elective waiting times lengthened beyond 18 weeks again in August, as the admission rate fell to a three year low. Annual leave is the likely cause of lower activity, not beds.
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Swedish warships and NHS waiting times
By the time the Vasa was launched in 1628, it was the biggest project ever undertaken by Sweden and the most expensive ship in the world. But what does it have to do with NHS waiting times?
How to work out your waiting time trajectories accurately
Long-wait trajectories are easy to ask for, and surprisingly hard to calculate. But with a skilful model and a bit of luck, you could achieve precision planning for your trajectories. In this longer read we go deep into the detail.
The latest planning guidance gets perilously close to being useful
Despite first impressions, this year's planning guidance is a welcome step away from the traditional financially-led approach, towards more realistic and operationally-useful planning.
Standard licences replace read-only
In the middle of something and find you need a Standard licence? Don't worry - we'll make sure you aren't left in the lurch.
England slides further into 18 weeks breach
England's referral-to-treatment waiting times headed towards 19 weeks, fuelled by a growing waiting list and in spite of the intended recovery trajectories.
Junior doctors’ strikes – the effect on waiting times
The junior doctors' strikes mean a loss of elective activity and a rise in waiting times. But don't go blaming them for the continued breach of "18 weeks".
Letting doctors decide on waiting times
Should we stop having targets for elective waiting times? And what do vicars have to do with it?
Some suggestions for the Patients Association about elective waiting times
The Patients Association's waiting times report had a big impact, but NHS England were still justified in calling it “misleading and statistically flawed”. How could future reports avoid the pitfalls?
England remains solidly in breach of 18 weeks as new incentives loom
Longer-waiting services should have improved in June, as Trusts approach the start of their "reset" trajectories in July. But instead those longer waits got worse.