NHS surgery waiting list expected to double in two years

THE number of NHS patients waiting longer than 18 weeks for some surgeries is forecast to double in two years.

The figures from health service regulators, revealed in leaked documents, also show total numbers on waiting lists are expected to soar to 5.5 million by 2019, on current trends. The docu- ments show that on current trends, the number of patients waiting at least 18 weeks for operations such as hip, knee and cataract surgery is expected to more than double.

Latest official statistics show around 370,000 patients were waiting this long in February. The documents, disclosed by Health Service Journal, show that unless improvements are made, almost 800,000 patients can expect to wait this long by March 2019.

Last night, the Royal College of Surgeons said the growing waiting times were “unacceptably high” and would leave patients at risk of death and disability.

Latest published figures show 3.7 million patients on the waiting list. But the documents warn that the figure is on course to reach almost 5.5 million.

Ian Eardley, vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said the NHS was at risk of reversing a decade of progress. “Without further help from the next government after the election, this is what the real impact will be on patients of successive underfunding of the NHS.” Last month, Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said waiting lists for routine procedures might rise in order that NHS trusts could focus on improving emergency care and treatment for cancer and mental health.

A spokesman for NHS Improvement said: “We are working with providers to improve their overall operational productivity and to help reduce waiting times for patients.”