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Home Industry News Report predicts major increase in numbers waiting for NHS surgery

Report predicts major increase in numbers waiting for NHS surgery

4th May 2017

NHS hospital waiting lists are set to become considerably longer in the coming years, a new report has indicated.

Projections made by NHS Improvement, reported by the Health Service Journal, the total number of people waiting longer than 18 weeks for surgery will be expected to soar to 5.5 million by 2019, compared with a current figure of 3.7 million.

This would be almost double the present rate, if current trends are to continue, and will mainly affect those waiting for non-emergency surgeries, such as hip replacements and cataract operations.

Currently about 90 percent of patients are treated within 18 weeks, which is lower than the target of 92 percent. However, this is likely to fall to around 85 per cent by 2019 unless improvements are made.

Ian Eardley, vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said this is a consequence of the 18-week target for planned surgery being deprioritised in favour of efforts to improve emergency care and cancer treatment.

He added: "Without further help from the next government after the election, this is what the real impact will be on patients of successive underfunding of the NHS."

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