163,000 waiting a year for hospital treatment ‘could be tip of the iceberg’

THE number of people waiting more than 52 weeks to start hospital treatment in England has risen to a 12year high, showing the impact of the pandemic on the NHS.

In October, a total of 1 2,888 of the 4.44million on waiting lists had been there for more than a year, according to NHS England, the highest number since May 2008 – and far above the 1,321 in October last year.

It is also a 1 per cent rise on the 139,545 recorded in September.

Nuffield Trust deputy director of research Sarah Scobie said: ‘This build-up will take time to work through but sadly could be just the tip of the iceberg, with those people not coming into the system storing up greater care needs in the future.’

Patients admitted each month for planned treatment, including surgery, has been rising compared with prepandemic levels, though the second wave of Covid infections could be slowing progress.

Some 232,48 were admitted during October, which is the highest figure since February – before the pandemic hit – when 285,819 were admitted.

Meanwhile, 3 2,100 patients had waited more than six weeks for diagnostic tests, including MRI scans, ultrasounds or gastroscopy. The equivalent number in October last year was 33,200 but it peaked at 5 1,500 in May 2020.

Some 203, 04 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in October 2020 - the highest number for a year.

A&E attendances at hospitals continue to be below last year – with 1.5million last month, down from 2.1 million in November 2019.

Urging people to come forward, the NHS said: ‘For every Covid inpatient treated, hospitals managed to treat five other inpatients.’