A hospital ward (File picture)
(Picture: PA Wire)Most NHS trusts do not feel confident that they will meet key targets on waiting lists and cancer, a report has found, as the health service braces for a winter of unprecedented pressure.
A poll of health trust leaders for NHS Providers found under half (48 per cent) felt their trust was on track to meet elective recovery and cancer targets by the end of the financial year.
Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) disagreed or strongly disagreed they could hit the targets, which were put in place after the pandemic.
NHS Providers surveyed 183 trust leaders from 121 trusts for the report, accounting for around 57 per cent of the provider sector.
Nearly nine in ten (85 per cent) said they are more worried about this winter than any previous winter during their NHS career, while almost four in five (77 per cent) said they were concerned about having the right staffing levels to deliver high quality healthcare.
The figures come as the number of people waiting for hospital treatment across England topped 7.1 million, according to figures released last week. It is the highest figure since records began in August 2007.
A total of 401,537 people in England had been waiting more than 52 weeks to start hospital treatment at the end of September, NHS England said.
In February, NHS England said the number of people waiting more than 62 days from an urgent cancer referral to starting treatment should go back to pre-pandemic levels by March 2023.
At present, just 61.7 per cent of people (the average for 2022/23 so far) get cancer treatment within 62 days, compared with 77.2 per cent before the pandemic.
NHS England also set a goal to deliver around 30 per cent more planned treatments by 2024/25 than before the pandemic, with over 10 per cent more in 2022/23 alone.
However, the NHS is currently only hitting 96 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in this area (this is the average figure for the first six months of this financial year).
Meanwhile, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) last week announced strike action across hospitals in England – including nine trusts in London. It is feared that the strikes will disrupt routine operations, though emergency services will not be affected.
The survey found that 93 per cent of providers are concerned about “burnout” across their workforce, with 80 per cent concerned about morale.
Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive, NHS Providers, said: “Winter always piles extra pressure on the NHS and our survey paints a worrying picture for patients, staff and trusts.
“Leaders across the NHS are telling us about demoralised staff and a rise in resignations and retirements. Below-inflation pay awards, increases in the cost of living and wider dissatisfaction mean the health service is on the cusp of a highly challenging winter with a number of healthcare workers now contemplating industrial action alongside nurses.”
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: “This week’s statement is the UK government’s opportunity to signal a new direction with serious investment. Across the country, politicians have the power to stop strike action now and at any point.”
