Almost 36,000 NHS patients waiting to start treatment in Cornwall
That is according to figures from the end of December
It has been revealed that almost 36,000 NHS patients in Cornwall were waiting to start treatment at the end of last year.
New figures have been released that show 67.3% were waiting within 18 weeks at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust. The NHS operational standard is 92%.
Half of patients were waiting less than 11 weeks and 92 out of 100 patients were waiting less than 39 weeks.
RCHT says they are doing better than the national picture in terms of waiting lists but numbers have grown as a result of the pandemic.
Six-point-one million people are now on NHS waiting lists across England, which is the highest number since records began in 2007.
20,000 of those have been waiting for two or more years for treatment.
And those waiting more than two months for their first cancer treatment has risen by 33 percent.
It comes as Cornwall's entire health system continues to face unprecedented demand.
Hospital bosses have issued recent warnings about the numbers of people turning up at A&E at Treliske.
Last week the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust revealed that with a growing numbers of people in hospital with Covid, more than 10 wards across acute and community hospitals had areas closed because of people who had tested negative on admission but were harbouring the virus which appeared a day or two later.
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, care home and domiciliary care sectors are also under extreme pressure, with more than 50 care homes unable to accept new people due to recent coronavirus cases among staff or residents as of last week. Primary care and mental health services are extremely stretched, and ambulances are experiencing lengthy waiting times to get people into hospital.
Speaking on behalf of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s health and care system, NHS Kernow’s chief nurse Natalie Jones said: “Omicron transmission is causing significant problems for all our services and preventing the movement of people from 1 aspect of their care to the next. Although overall numbers are lower, it’s the busiest we have been at any point in the pandemic because it’s happening at the time of year when we have usual winter pressures on services as well.
“We know we have asked before, but we really do need to call upon our population to help us by making the right choices if they need help with injuries or illness, and to only use 999 or the emergency department if it is a life-threatening situation. As always, we ask people to consider if it is something they can treat themselves, can speak to a pharmacist about, or contact their own GP. If they aren’t sure which service to use, please call NHS 111 or visit nhs.uk for expert advice.
“Families and friends can also help if they can support someone to go home from hospital sooner by offering them a helping hand with everyday needs such as shopping, meals, cleaning and getting dressed. Please contact the ward they are on if you can help in any way. There is support we can give to make it as easy as possible, including a grant towards equipment or personal care.”
Visit www.kernowccg.nhs.uk for contact details and opening times of health services which can help you manage any conditions you have.