NHS pressures: How is the Dorset University Hospitals Trust performing?

NHS figures show performance has deteriorated across England during the Covid crisis – patients are now waiting longer in A&E departments, for routine cancer treatment and for ambulances.

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But how did these services look before the pandemic?

We've taken a look at how health service performance at the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust compares to three years ago.

Waiting Lists

72,543 people were waiting for routine, consultant-led hospital treatment at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust in May, up from 48,759 last year.

The NHS aims for 92 per cent of patients to be seen within 18 weeks, but this target has not been met since 2016.

59 per cent of the patients at University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) seen in May had been waiting fewer than 18 weeks – down from 63 per cent the year before.

A UHD spokesperson said: “We appreciate how frustrating it can be for patients waiting for their elective (non-emergency) care and we are working hard to make sure people are seen as soon as possible.

“Our backlog grew after the initial Covid lockdowns as more patients were referred for treatment by their GP.

“We are determined to do everything we can to work through our waiting lists and would encourage all patients who are waiting to be seen to look at ‘My Planned Care (https://www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk/)’.

“This website gives advice and support to help people prepare for their hospital consultation, treatment, or surgery. The latest information about waiting times is available through this site as well as signposting to other local support services.”

Cancer Treatment

The pandemic also had a significant impact on cancer services across England, with Covid-related disruption leaving many patients in limbo.

NHS guidance says 85 per cent of cancer patients with an urgent GP referral should begin treatment within 62 days.

NHS England figures show 178 people referred for cancer treatment from their GP were treated within 62 days at the Dorset University Hospitals Trust.

It meant just 70 per cent of 255 people were seen within the NHS-guided time limit.

Macmillan Cancer Support said the data shows "the system is still under huge strain" and urged the Government to prioritise the 10-year cancer plan to ensure the NHS is resourced to provide quality and timely cancer care.

A UHD spokesperson said: “We know how important it is for our patients to have fast diagnosis and access to cancer treatment.

“An increase in GP referrals following lockdowns put pressure on the current capacity for first appointments.

“This increase in referrals has continued and additional clinics have been running to meet this demand and support our patients. Work continues across UHD to improve cancer pathways to ensure we are able to offer the best and most timely care to our patients.”

Ambulance Response Times

Ambulance trusts have also struggled with growing pressures as a result of the pandemic.

Nationally, the average response time for major emergencies has more than doubled in the last three years, sitting at 51 minutes and 38 seconds in June, NHS England figures show.

In June 2019, ambulance teams at the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust responded to major emergencies in 29 minutes and 28 seconds.

This rose to one hour, nine minutes and 50 seconds in the same month this year.

A UHD spokesperson said: “Significant pressures on emergency departments across the county have continued to affect our hospitals. We continue to see an increase in walk in attendances and ambulance drop offs.

“It can take longer to move patients from our emergency departments to a busy hospital bed. Our staff continue to work incredibly hard under difficult circumstances and will continue to prioritise our most poorly patients first.

“We encourage patients to access NHS services wisely and find alternative and appropriate support elsewhere, including GPs, urgent treatment centres (UTCs), pharmacies and NHS 111.”

What the Government has said

The Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said it is growing the workforce with 4,300 more doctors and 10,200 more nurses recruited than last year and has commissioned NHS England to develop a long-term workforce plan.

READ MORE: Patient told to wait 12hrs at Royal Bournemouth Hospital A&E

A spokesperson said: "NHS staff have been working incredibly hard to bust the Covid backlogs and have treated more than 15 million patients in the last year.

"Our community diagnostic centres have delivered over 1.5 million additional checks since July 2021, and the number of people waiting more than two years for treatment has dropped by more than 80 per cent since February."