NHS wait times are longer in poorer regions

Healthwatch England survey reveals mental health toll on patients caught in backlog

PEOPLE living in poorer regions of England are nearly twice as likely to wait more than a year for routine treatment on the NHS, according to new analysis.

Data from The King’s Fund and

Healthwatch England found that seven per cent of people waiting for treatment in the poorest regions will wait more than 12 months. However, for the most affluent areas, this figure is just four per cent.

Waiting lists are also growing at a much more rapid rate in poorer parts of the country than in wealthier locales.

From April 2020 to July 2021, waiting lists have swelled by 55 per cent, on average, in the most deprived parts of the country compared with 36 per cent in the richest areas.

Despite the efforts of NHS staff during the pandemic, the backlog has grown to 5.61million people – almost one in every 10 people in England.

The NHS has now been told by the watchdog to ensure people have “interim support” in place while it tackles the record backlog of untreated patients. The analysis comes as a poll by Healthwatch England exposed the toll the waiting list is having on people’s physical and mental health.

A survey of 1,600 people who were either on the waiting list themselves or had a loved one in need of treatment, found that 54 per cent said it was affecting their mental health while 57 per cent said the wait was affecting their physical health. And 48 per cent did not have any support to manage their condition during their wait.

Healthwatch England has set out a series of recommendations to the NHS in England which involve improving communication with people on the waiting list. As well as its request for “interim support” for those waiting, such as physiotherapy, pain relief and mental health support, it says the NHS should also be responsive to people on the list and reprioritise treatment if people’s needs change.

Sir Robert Francis, the chairman of Healthwatch England, said: “With healthcare services forced to prioritise critically ill patients throughout the pandemic, it is a reality that people will be waiting longer for hospital treatment for a while.

“However, NHS England must manage waiting lists better by reducing the risks and inconvenience to patients caused by delays to care, as part of the national action to reduce the backlog.”

Former nurse Sybil Williams, 86, from Minehead in Somerset, said that she felt suicidal while waiting 17 months for her hip replacement. Ms Williams had a lower leg amputated in 2008 and was waiting for surgery on her “good” leg when the pandemic struck.

“The waiting time was dreadful. I was in constant pain and at times thought I couldn’t go on any longer. I felt suicidal in December 2020.”

An NHS spokesman said: “Expert clinicians continue to prioritise patients with the greatest clinical need and hospitals should ensure that a point of contact is available to those waiting for treatment, including through Patient Advice and Liaison Services.”