Crack government teams cut hospital waiting times

The NHS trust running Russells Hall Hospital is on track to hit national waiting time targets after government intervention.

Westminster sent specialist teams to 20 areas of England with the highest economic inactivity in a bid to cut waiting times and get patients back to work.

Dudley was among the areas included in the Further Faster 20 initiative which saw operations speeded up by doctors performing ‘Formula One’ surgery and outpatients appointments streamlined by sending patients directly for tests rather than attending clinics multiple times. 

Diane Wake, group chief executive at Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Over the past 18 months we have been proud to participate in the government’s Further Faster 20 initiative which has helped the Trust to unlock a range of new activity and specifically helped us to apply innovative approaches to improve theatre flow and boost capacity. 

“As a result and alongside our staff going above and beyond in their commitment to our patients, we have seen a positive impact on patient waiting lists and there are currently no patients waiting 65 weeks or over.

“I am also proud that the Trust now only has 0.1 percent of our patients waiting over 52 weeks and we are on track to deliver the national target of 65 percent of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks for treatment by March 2026.”

Tim Mitchell, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: “It is encouraging to see targeted support helping trusts run operating lists and outpatient clinics more efficiently.  

“Long waits carry real human costs – prolonged pain, loss of independence, time away from work and disrupted lives.  

“This initiative shows what’s possible with focused investment. Our surgical workforce census shows surgeons are ready to do more operations, and with the right theatres, staffing and bed capacity in place, the NHS can go further and faster in tackling waiting lists.”