No let up in the growing demand for treatment

12 July 2018

 

Responding to the latest performance figures from NHS England, the head of analysis at NHS Providers, Phillippa Hentsch, said:

“These figures show there is no let up in the growing demand for treatment.

“Everyone wants to avoid a repetition of the problems we saw last winter.

Everyone wants to avoid a repetition of the problems we saw last winter.

Phillippa Hentsch    

“For that to happen you would need to see significant improvement compared to where we stood this time last year against key targets such as the four-hour standard in A and E.

“The reality is that trusts are doing all they can. They are seeing many more patients than twelve months ago and performance in A & E has picked up since the winter, but we are no further forward than we were twelve months ago.

“And as trusts battle to keep up with demand for urgent and emergency care, the challenge of recovering lost ground in preventing delays for routine operations becomes still greater.

“It is particularly worrying to see a sharp rise in the number of people waiting more than a year. Tackling this is a priority. But the pressures mean we’re going backwards.

“And it is a concern to see performance slipping against the cancer targets.

We need urgent action now to head off much worse problems ahead in the coming winter.

Phillippa Hentsch    

“The writing is on the wall.

“We need urgent action now to head off much worse problems ahead in the coming winter. Funding is needed to put in place the necessary staff, beds and other resources. We are fast approaching the point where it is too late for this year.”