NHS services struggling to cope with rising demand ahead of busy winter period
16 November 2016
- The latest QMR from The King's Fund reveals big rises in demand for healthcare
- The NHS is heading into winter with its finances under pressure and performance against some of the key indicators at their worst level for more than a decade
- We say we now run the risk of a winter of discontent, and urge the government to act by making extra funding for social care its top priority in the autumn statement
The QMR, which covers the period July to September, shows:
- 9.4% of those attending A&E waited more than four hours - the worst performance for this time of year for more than a decade
- 9.4% of patients waited longer than 18 weeks to begin hospital treatment - the worst performance since targets were revised in 2012
- a record high of 568,774 bed days lost as a result of delayed discharges - a 29% rise on the same quarter last year.
Commenting on the QMR, Siva Anandaciva, head of analysis at NHS Providers, said:
“This report shows the rise in demand for NHS frontline services continues unabated, reflected by the increase in patients coming to A&E, and 400,000 more people waiting for operations in the space of 12 months.
We now run the risk of a winter of discontent as frontline services may struggle to cope with demand during the health service’s busiest period
"The data indicating additional pressures for GPs and commissioners also give cause for concern and demonstrate that strained finances are affecting all parts of the NHS. Looking even wider, the fact that delayed transfers of care are at record levels is yet another indication that the fates of social care and NHS services are intertwined. We now run the risk of a winter of discontent as frontline services may struggle to cope with demand during the health service’s busiest period.
“Despite the additional £1.8 billion funding to help trusts manage their deficits and significant effort by trusts to increase efficiency, it is clear from these findings that hopes of a turnaround year are in the balance. A third of trusts may well miss their financial targets according to this analysis. It is becoming a near impossible task for trusts to balance their books while continuing to care for rising numbers of patients.
NHS trusts are working harder than ever to manage these challenges while ensuring patients receive safe, high-quality care
“NHS trusts are working harder than ever to manage these challenges while ensuring patients receive safe, high-quality care. We along with other healthcare organisations urge the government to act by making extra funding for social care its top priority for the autumn statement to help ease pressure and free up capacity over the winter months.”