Inpatients’ waiting list cut by over 100
EFFORTS to cut the orthopaedic waiting list are showing signs of success as another new off-island provider signs up to help.
Health & Social Care was given an extra £1.5m. to tackle the problem this year, with the inpatient waiting list cut by more than 100 since the end of 2018.
Patients have now been offered the opportunity to be treated at New Hall Hospital in Salisbury through HSC’s new partnership with Ramsay Health Care UK.
More than 60 patients have been told of the new relationship and been offered the chance to be treated off-island.
A total of 193 orthopaedic patients have now been offered the chance to have treatment off-island
HSC said that 54 have been treated already at either the Orthopaedic & Spine Specialist Hospital in Peterborough, Spire Hospital in Southampton or Jersey’s General Hospital.
‘It is hoped that those who accept the offer of treatment with Ramsay will receive their operation by the end of the year,’ said the committee in a statement.
Efforts are being made to find additional patients for whom off-island treatment could be an option.
‘Progress has already been made with 410 contract patients on the orthopaedic inpatient waiting list as at 30th September 2019, which is down from 522 at the end of 2018,’ said HSC
‘However, whilst the total number of people on the inpatient waiting list has reduced, significant numbers of new patients joining the list (over 700 in the first six months of 2019) has reduced the speed at which the overall backlog can be addressed.’
About 90 have so far declined the offer of off-island treatment or were found to not be suitable.
Work has also been done with the Guernsey Therapy Group as part of the measures to reduce the waiting list, and this group ensure that pre-operation care was in place for patients travelling off-island and post-op physiotherapy appointments are booked before surgery takes place.
In addition, the Medical Specialist Group is making sure that unused theatre lists are being used by orthopaedic surgeons and this allows a small increase in the number of patients who can be seen on-island each week.
MSG surgeons have also worked extra hours, supported by HSC staff, over four Saturdays, allowing for an extra 17 patients to be treated.
‘Orthopaedic services account for over 25% of all planned surgical interventions and this figure is rising,’ said HSC president Heidi Soulsby.
‘Many patients have waited longer than they should have to, and for those who are still waiting, we are sorry. HSC is working hard with all of its partners to respond to these issues and we thank all those involved for their work.’
A total of £1.5m was approved for spending on these additional services in 2019 by the Policy & Resources Committee, and HSC said that up to the end of September, £900,000 had been committed, with a review of providers scheduled to assess the most effective use of the remainder.
But based on the continuing demand, HSC has requested an additional £1.5m for 2020 to speed up the reduction of the waiting list and to help keep waiting times as short as possible.
