Economy 51
NHS health boards across England are deliberately delaying patient care by enforcing minimum wait times for treatment, an investigation by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has revealed. Analysis found enforced delays of up to 16 weeks for hip, knee, and cataract surgery, alongside other planned procedures, as a way to manage demand and control costs. Using the Freedom of Information Act, BMJ obtained records from 35 of the 36 integrated care boards (ICBs) in England.
Seventeen ICBs introduced minimum waits of between 12 and 16 weeks for key procedures. Two ICBs—Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and West Yorkshire—set a minimum wait of 16 weeks for all routine procedures. West Yorkshire aimed for 90% of patients to wait at least 16 weeks for treatment, citing flexibility for prioritizing patients at risk of clinical deterioration.
Shropshire implemented a 16-week minimum wait to promote fairness and reduce variation in elective services. Other ICBs set minimum waits for cataract surgery (16 weeks in some cases) or assumed patients would wait several months. Birmingham required a minimum wait of 14 weeks for elective care unless clinically urgent.
Humber and North Yorkshire assumed an average 16-week wait for routine procedures. NHS Hereford and Worcestershire had a 14-week minimum wait for planned procedures. Dorset’s independent sector providers adhered to a 14-week minimum wait from referral.
Somerset mandated no treatment under 14 weeks unless patients were prioritized or needed urgent tests. The Royal College of Surgeons expressed concern over delays, stating patients clinically ready should not be delayed for administrative or financial reasons. It warned minimum waits risk a postcode lottery and worsen care delays.
The Royal College of GPs agreed, noting longer waits strain GPs and add to their workload. They emphasized treatment decisions should be based on clinical need. The Nuffield Trust’s Sally Gainsbury acknowledged minimum waits as a rational budgeting tool but questioned fairness clarity.
An NHS spokesperson clarified wait policies help optimize resources but ensure clinical need is prioritized, with an 18-week maximum wait for elective care as per NHS standards.
Source: The Independent
