News / University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust
Thousands of Bristol patients are waiting more than a year for treatment
Thousands of patients across Bristol have been waiting more than a year for treatment after their non-urgent procedures were put on hold.
At the start of the pandemic in March 2020 only 52 people had waited more than 12 months for treatment with the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston Trust – by November that figure had hit 2,892, with another 1,500 breaches expected this month.
At the North Bristol Trust the figure stood at 1,418 in December, predominantly due to reduced elective activity as part of the ongoing Covid-19 response, up from 71 last March.
is needed now More than ever
Some patients are deferring treatment due to concerns about coronavirus.
The breaches would normally result in hefty fines, with the trusts and the clinical commissioning group sharing a £5,000 penalty each month for every patient kept waiting more than 52 weeks.
Across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire the monthly bill could run to many millions of pounds.
But NHS England chief operating officer Amanda Pritchard confirmed this week that the financial sanction continues to be suspended in recognition of the unprecedented pressure caused by Covid-19.
At the UHBW Trust many of the delays relate to dental, paediatrics, general surgery, ophthalmology and cardiac procedures.
A report to board members this week said: “Due to the continued pressures with Covid and general increase in attendances due to winter, UHBW have stepped down the majority of routine operations, which will have a further impact on those patients who are considered low priority even though they have waited the longest in the weeks they have waited.”
An NBT trust report said some patients were choosing to defer their treatment due to concerns about Covid-19.
The majority of its breaches were in trauma and orthopaedics.
The backlog is due to the ongoing pandemic. Photo: Hack the Pandemic
A spokesperson for the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has had a big impact on the NHS and has meant pausing some non-urgent routine operations and outpatient appointments during peaks of the virus to allow us to safely care for the rising number of people with coronavirus in our hospitals.
“While we continue to provide emergency and cancer provision during this time and work closely with our local independent sector hospitals to maintain some elective surgery, it is not possible to resume previous levels of surgical or diagnostic activity.
“We are regularly reviewing this position and are putting plans in place over the coming months that look to tackle the backlog.
“The focus of our healthcare system is currently on ensuring that patients are safe, and treated within clinically appropriate timescales wherever possible. This has included reviewing and contacting all patients who are waiting for planned procedures, and undertaking remote assessments where appropriate.”
Stephen Sumner is a local democracy reporter for North Somerset.
Main photo: James Koch
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