While gastroenterology and orthopaedic waiting lists reduced in 2025, waiting-time targets are still being missed across several services, according to the latest report on key performance indicators in the contract between the States and the Medical Specialist Group. The key 95% waiting-time target was missed across all major categories.
The emergency department was at 88%, radiology 87%, outpatients 64% and inpatients 57%.
Health & Social Care committee president George Oswald said that he recognised that too many patients were still waiting longer than they should for treatment.
‘We recognise that challenges remain. Too many patients still wait longer than we would like for treatment, particularly in specialties experiencing sustained demand,’ he said.
‘Delayed transfers of care continue to place pressure on hospital capacity and reflect wider challenges across the health and care system.
‘Addressing these issues will require continued collaboration across healthcare, social care and the wider community.’
He said that any improvements in waiting lists were the result of sustained work by clinical and operational teams.
Gastroenterology was the most improved, with a 34% reduction of the inpatient contract list and the total waiting list.
The waiting list position is reviewed jointly by HSC and the MSG to ensure all is done to optimise capacity and minimise postponements and disruptions.
The MSG undertook a comprehensive review of the endoscopy waiting list, working with primary care to streamline the processes and increase throughput.
‘Outcomes, not throughput, are the measure we ultimately judge ourselves by,’ said Medical Specialist Group chair Michelle Le Cheminant.
‘The reduction in the gastroenterology waiting list followed a careful clinical review of every patient on the list, refined referral criteria, and wider use of CT colonography for older and frailer patients for whom conventional colonoscopy is not the gentlest option. This is what tailoring the pathway to the patient looks like in practice.’
The de Havilland ward was opened in October 2022, utilising an area of Le Marchant Ward to reduce the backlog of patients waiting for orthopaedic surgery. It is not being permanently funded from HSC’s budget.
In 2024, there were 488 orthopaedic procedures delivered, up from 462 in 2023. This dropped slightly to 467 in 2025.
‘Since the opening of de Havilland ward in 2022, dedicated orthopaedic beds have increased procedure numbers and reduced postponing of elective surgery,’ said Deputy Oswald.
‘Despite this, orthopaedic demand continues to grow. During 2025, the inpatient waiting list decreased by 11% however the total orthopaedic waiting list increased by 8%.’
The KPIs included in the report are closely aligned with those used across the NHS.
In some areas, such as waiting times in the emergency department and conversion rates to in-patient care, local performance exceeds that of NHS England.
You need to be logged in to comment.