Waiting time targets missed every month in 2015 by two South London hospital trusts – South London News

VaselineMay 22, 2024

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Waiting time targets missed every month in 2015 by two South London hospital trusts – South London News

Waiting time targets have been missed every month since September 2015 by two South London Hospitals Trustsnew figures revealed.

Figures from the House of Commons Library show that King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and St George’s University NHS Foundation Trust failed to treat patients within 18 weeks of each month since September 2015.

The NHS constitution says patients should not wait more than 18 weeks in between referral to the family doctor to treatment and that Trusts should ensure that 92% of patients are seen within that timeframe.

Both South London companies said patient demand – which is higher than ever – along with the impact of COVID-19 and strike action over the past year has increased waiting times.

A spokeswoman for King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are already taking steps to ensure patients are treated as quickly as possible, including opening more operating theatres, scheduling weekend surgical appointments and implementing virtual appointments where appropriate.”

Across the country, 114 trusts have failed to meet this target since 2019, with 22 trusts failing to treat patients within 18 weeks since 2015.

At the other end of the scale, 14 trusts, including Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, met the target in February. 2024.

*The figures show the 22 hospital trusts which failed to treat patients within 18 weeks at any time in 2015 (Image: Work)*

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and St George’s University NHS Foundation Trust also failed to meet their A&E target, which is that 95% of A&E patients should wait less than 4 hours.

Wes Streeting MP, Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary, said: “Under Rishi Sunak’s watch, record numbers of patients are left waiting for hours in A&E when delays can cost lives.

“Under the Tories, people can no longer trust the NHS to be there for them when they need it.

“When Labor was last in government, patients were treated on time and the maximum waiting time was reduced from 18 months to 18 weeks.

“It’s time to stop the chaos, turn the page and start rebuilding. The country needs change and only Labor can get the NHS back on its feet.”

A spokeswoman for St George’s said: “We understand that some of our patients are waiting longer than we would like, but we are consistently performing in line with, and often above, national targets and have made significant improvements to make this thing.

The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment.

Top image: St George’s Hospital Emergency Department, part of St George’s University NHS Foundation Trust (Image: Google Street View)

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