No sudden return to waiting times patients expect as NHS disruption continues

Responding to the latest NHS performance stats and GP patient survey results from NHS England, Nuffield Trust Acting Director of Research Dr Sarah Scobie said:

“Figures this morning on NHS performance and GP patient experience illustrate clearly that there will be no sudden return to the waiting times the public have been promised and still expect. Another 50,000 patients have been added to a waiting list for routine care or treatment that was already at record levels, bringing the total up to 7.47 million.

“Performance has stagnated at a lower level, with the recent hot weather and strikes impacting the ability of staff to drive down waits. The average waiting time for patients is continuing to increase with over half of patients waiting more than 14 weeks for treatment.  

“Yesterday's update from the NHS that it will adjust recovery targets on waits for planned operations is an acceptance of the difficult reality services now face with no end to doctor strikes in sight. 

“Satisfaction with GPs remains on a worryingly negative trajectory, although it has not fallen as far as the previous year. Patients appear to be facing major difficulties in getting an appointment, with just over half reporting a good experience of booking an appointment and only one in two patients finding it easy to get through on the phone. While the government has set out plans to improve this for patients, GP surgeries will need time to improve phone and administrative processes which will not be easy while dealing with greater patient need for care and GP shortages.”