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13
Aug 2019
Waiting times for routine operations in England reach record high
Recent figures show that in the month of June, there were 4.4 million people waiting for routine operations in England on the NHS, and that the following month the number of people attending their local accident and emergency department hit a record high of 2.27 million.
Waiting lists have been steadily increasing over the last twelve months, with the figures for June slightly higher than the previous month.
Senior doctors are now calling for a five-year plan to clear the backlog of patients waiting for routine consultant-led hospital treatment, including releasing more hospital beds across the country.
President of the Royal College of Surgeons, Professor Derek Alderson, said the amount of patients “languishing on waiting lists remains at an utterly unacceptable level”.
Some hospital trusts have said that one factor which may be contributing to the issue has been the ongoing dispute over doctors’ pension tax relief, which has resulted in some consultants refusing to work extra shifts to help clear the operation backlog.
Health think tank the Nuffield Trust have said the figures showed “relentless pressure throughout the whole system.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 304 738
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