Work to reduce lenghty NHS waiting lists in Dorset is proving challenging as health chiefs look to tackle the Covid-induced backlog.

University Hospitals Dorset is contacting patients waiting for appointments as part of its work to tackle the lists.

Over the last two years, many non-emergency operations and procedures across the NHS had to be cancelled or postponed because of Covid-19.

The trust is prioritising its lists and will be contacting patients waiting for appointments at the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals via text message or letter.

Bournemouth Echo: Royal Bournemouth Hospital waiting listsRoyal Bournemouth Hospital waiting lists

Jonathan Wright, head of patient access, said: “From my career in the NHS. I don't think we've seen waits as long as this for a long time, it is really challenging.

Read more: NHS staff "run ragged" as majority of Poole Hospital wards have Covid

“We aim to use the resources that we have as best we can to see as many patients as possible, without any deterioration in the quality of those consultations.

“We have been using video consultations and over the telephone conversations, rather than bringing patients into the hospital.

Bournemouth Echo: Over the telephone consultations preventing people from coming into hospitalOver the telephone consultations preventing people from coming into hospital

“And we're looking at introducing patient initiated follow ups which means the patients are a bit more in control, if they need to come in within the timeframe they can, if not, then they don't need to have an appointment. So we’re just looking at how we can reduce wasted slots.

“It's really important that patients engage in our initiatives. such as text message validation. If people are concerned that it's a scam, please go to our website which lists what we will and won't ask patients.

Read more: Hundreds added to treatment waiting lists at BCP hospitals

“We know how long some patients have been waiting and we know how hard this can be.

"We are determined to do everything we can to help work through our waiting list as quickly as possible. Contacting patients digitally will enable us to do this efficiently so please do respond when you receive a message from University Hospitals Dorset.”

Alongside the use of technology to tackle waiting lists, UHD is also building new facilities to increase their capacity, such as temporary theatres in Bournemouth, new builds across both of their sites and an outpatient assessment clinic at Beales, in Poole.