Nuffield Trust responds to December NHS performance statistics

Commenting on the latest NHS England performance figures out today, Nuffield Trust Senior Fellow Dr Liz Fisher said:

"It’s beginning to look a lot like another bleak winter for the NHS. People across the country are already facing very long delays in ambulances outside hospitals while they wait for space to become available – so far this winter, 36% of patients on average were delayed for over 30 minutes. With rates of norovirus and flu already rising and vaccination rates lower this year, the familiar combination of winter illnesses and cold weather is likely to make things more difficult for the health service in the coming months. 

"Last week the government re-emphasised its promise to tackle waits for planned treatment. The overall waiting list reduced again in the latest data, this time by 32,000, and a record number of treatments were delivered, which is testament to the hard work of staff at all levels across the health service. It would be tempting to assume that sustained good progress on waiting times is on the horizon, but, in winter, NHS data often shows waiting lists decreasing because referrals for planned treatment typically fall during this time. We'll need to wait and see if this is more than just a seasonal trend as the NHS adapts to the intense stress it comes under at this time of year.

"While political focus is on the long-term goal of people being treated within 18 weeks of referral, the Health Secretary has also recently emphasised the need to prioritise patient safety in A&E this winter. As it works on major plans to reform how health care is delivered, the government needs to show it understands competing priorities in the here-and-now. Meanwhile, all areas of the NHS remain under strain and patients continue to suffer the consequences."  

Ends.