Is Your Hospital Meeting The 18-week Waiting Time Target?
According to a recent news report, NHS hospitals in England are still someway off meeting the 18-week waiting time target that was promised in one of Labour’s key election pledges. While the proportion of patients waiting less than 18 weeks has improved, this is by less than a percentage point, and in some hospital trusts, the number of patients being seen within 18 weeks has declined.
In response, the government stated that it was premature to determine if progress was too slow, emphasising that in most cases waiting times continue to improve, even during the winter.
Find Out If NHS Waiting Times Are Getting Better Near You
BBC Verify, which conducted the analysis of NHS trust waiting times, have produced an interactive tool that allows you to enter a postcode to find out how well your NHS services are doing. You can find the search tool here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cedg8dz7996o
According to the latest data, 59.7% of patients are waiting less than 18 weeks across England as a whole, but the government aims to increase this to 65% by next March.
The Impact of Delayed Appointments and Operations
Early diagnosis is crucial for successfully treating of a wide range of illnesses and conditions. When medical professionals fail to diagnose or treat a condition at an early stage, it can have serious consequences on a patient’s health and quality of life. Delayed diagnosis can result in prolonged pain and suffering, as well as the need for more extensive and costly treatment. In some cases, a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can even be life-threatening.
Commenting on the latest figures, Royal College of Surgeons of England president, Tim Mitchell said:
“Progress is being made in some parts of the country, but it’s too slow to meet the government’s ambition of hitting the 18-week target by the end of this parliament.”
“Delayed operations mean patients left waiting in pain, with their condition potentially deteriorating.”
Source: BBC News How is your hospital doing as NHS battles to bring down waiting times?
See Related News Stories Here:
• “Women Deserve Better,” Health Secretary Says Following Care Quality Commission Review
• Hospital Neglect Results in Babies’ Deaths
• Hospital Waiting Lists Still Over 7 Million
Can I Make a Medical Negligence Claim Against the NHS for Delayed Treatment?
If you did not receive necessary treatment, experienced a delay in your diagnosis, or were misdiagnosed, and it is more likely than not that the injury or illness could have been avoided or made less severe with proper treatment, then you may be able to take legal action against the NHS for compensation. Visit our NHS Negligence page for further information.
You may also be able to take legal action for compensation on someone else’s behalf if a loved one died because of negligent clinical care or because they don’t have the capacity to make a claim for themselves.
How do You Start an NHS Medical Negligence Claim?
At The Personal Injury People, we understand the importance of timely diagnosis in preventing further harm and suffering, and the devastating impact that suffering a medical negligence injury can have on your life, affecting not just you but also your family and loved ones.
If you want to find out if you can make a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosed compensation claim, contact our team for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case. Call 0800 731 7555 or complete the enquiry form to get in touch. Visit our Make a Claim page for further information.