THE number of patients waiting for treatments and operations at NHS trusts in Wirral has risen, figures reveal.

In October, tens of thousands of patients were waiting for routine treatment at Wirral University Teaching Hospital and more than 100 patients were waiting for routine treatment at Wirral Community Health and Care Trust.

NHS England figures show 37,157 patients were waiting for non-urgent elective operations or treatment at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust at the end of October – up slightly from 37,030 in September, and 26,935 in October 2021.

Of those, 1,279 (3%) had been waiting for longer than a year.

NHS England figures show 139 patients were waiting for non-urgent elective operations or treatment at Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust at the end of October – up from 88 in September, and 21 in October 2021.

Of those, six (4%) had been waiting for longer than a year.

The median waiting time from referral at an NHS Trust to treatment at Wirral University Teaching Hospital was 13 weeks at the end of October – the same as in September.

The median waiting time from referral at an NHS Trust to treatment at Wirral Community Health and Care Trust was 12 weeks at the end of October – up from 11 weeks in September.

Nationally, 7 million people were waiting to start treatment at the end of October.

 

Danielle Jefferies, from the King’s Fund, said: “The latest figures show an NHS bursting at the seams as services head into winter struggling to meet sharply rising demand while keeping patients safe.

"It is easy to become numb to dire NHS performance figures, but the health service really is facing the toughest pressures since modern records began.”

At Wirral University Teaching Hospital, 6,562 patients were waiting for one of 12 standard tests, such as an MRI scan, non-obstetric ultrasound or gastroscopy at this time.

Of them, 865 (13%) had been waiting for at least six weeks.

At Wirral Community Health and Care Trust, 557 patients were waiting for a type of cardiology test, called an echocardiography.

Of them, 373 (67%) had been waiting for at least six weeks.

 

Dr Susan Crossland, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine – a representative body for hospital staff – said of the latest NHS performance data that "such shocking levels of performance are now commonplace" and a sign of "just how far the NHS has fallen”.

She said: “Standards are at all-time lows for both patients and staff, and it is demoralising for colleagues across the country and the UK as a whole who are working tirelessly against the tide to deliver a reasonable quality of care.”

At Wirral Community Health and Care Trust, 557 patients were waiting for a type of cardiology test, called an echocardiography.

Of them, 373 (67%) had been waiting for at least six weeks.

The NHS states 85% of cancer patients urgently referred by a GP should start treatment within 62 days.

But NHS England data shows just 73% of patients urgently referred by the NHS who received cancer treatment at Wirral University Teaching Hospital in October began treatment within two months of their referral.

That was in line with the proportion in September, and 79% in October 2021 last year.

Professor Julian Redhead, national clinical director for urgent and emergency care for NHS England, said the service is facing a "perfect storm".

He said: “Despite the ongoing pressures on services which are exacerbated by flu hospitalisations, issues in social care meaning we cannot discharge patients who are ready, and record numbers needing A&E, staff have powered through to bring down some of our longest waits for care.

Professor Redhead added that the organisation is hoping to alleviate some of the pressures with a new respiratory infections hub, alongside an expansion of support for those suffering mental health crises.