NHSE claims 20% cut in long waiters before latest strikes

Trusts reduced the number of 65-week breaches by around 20% and cut the overall elective waiting list between October and mid-December, NHS England has said.

The claim is based on provisional data published by NHSE on 2 January, which came with a warning of possible “significant issues regarding the quality and completeness”.

The figures suggest the number of 65-week waiters fell from around 114,000 on 8 October to around 93,000 by 17 December. The last official “referral to treatment” figures were published last month (see table below). They reported there were around 107,000 65-week breaches in October.

Sources familiar with the provisional data, from the “waiting list minimum data set”, said while it was not as accurate as official referral to treatment statistics, it gives an accurate picture of the direction of travel and overall performance.

Read full story (paywalled)

Source: HSJ, 3 January 2024