NHS hospital wait times above 18 weeks at a third of departments

NHS hospital wait times above 18 weeks at a third of departments Nearly 40% of NHS hospital departments in England have average treatment waiting times above 18 weeks – with average waits at some well over 30 weeks, according to Observer analysis of NHS data.

In England, the NHS Constitution sets out that patients should wait no more than 18 weeks from GP referral to treatment. But analysis of hospital waiting time data published on the NHS My Planned Care site shows that 813 out of 2,148 specialties at hospital trusts in England had average wait times for non-cancer treatment of more than 18 weeks in mid-August – 38% in total. The Guardian

See also:

• Hospitals are hit by £5.5m-a-day bed blocking crisis The Daily Mail
• Senior health chief warns NHS may have to go on pandemic footing this winter to protect service The Daily Mail
• ‘A horrible winter lies ahead’: next PM will inherit an NHS on its knees The Guardian
• Thousands of NHS staff to leave because they can’t afford to travel to work, chiefs warn The Independent
• Flu could ‘bite’ as early as October, NHS leaders and scientists warn The Independent