There are two-thirds fewer people waiting more than two years for elective care and the number of diagnostic tests in the capital has increased, new figures show today, as the NHS in London continues to make progress in elective recovery.
Through the NHS in London’s continued commitment to aid elective recovery, recent figures show the number of Londoners waiting over two years for hospital care is now at less than a third of the waiting list at the start of the year. The number of diagnostic tests delivered also increased, with 30,000 more checks delivered in May than the previous month.
From Super Orthopaedic Weekends, to High Intensity Theatre lists where surgeons focus on one type of procedure throughout the day, NHS staff across London have developed innovative ways of working to tackle backlogs that inevitably built up through the pandemic and keep people safe while prioritising those who needed urgent care.
In June this year, North Central London (NCL) orthopaedic ‘Super Weekend’, saw nearly 1,000 patients waiting for knee, hip and other orthopaedic appointments invited to ‘one-stop shop’ clinics at five local NHS hospital trusts, including North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Whittington Health NHS Trust.
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Divisional Director at UCLH and NCL Elective Orthopaedic Network Chair, Professor Fares Haddad said: “I’m immensely proud of my NHS colleagues who worked so hard to plan and deliver this successful, innovative event. Consultants, radiographers, physiotherapists, administrators, receptionists and many, many other staff from five NHS trusts in north central London worked together to get people waiting for orthopaedic appointments the help they need more quickly.
Dr Chris Streather, Medical Director for the NHS in London, said:
“Through the innovative approaches taking place across the capital and the dedication of all our staff, we are seeing that the people who have been waiting the longest, are now getting the care they need.
“We know it is frustrating to be waiting for planned care, but the capital’s NHS is doing everything possible to ensure people are treated safely and as soon as possible. It is vitally important that anybody who has health needs continues to come forward.”
