The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Lincolnshire had more than 82,000 patients on hospital waiting lists in August – up 18,000 in a year.
The figures ‘compare well’ to the rest of the country, says a report to the county’s Care Commissioning Group which met yesterday (Wednesday) morning.
The report also says that 47 per cent of patients who contact their GP are seen on the same day.
But high demand and staff absence have continued to put huge pressure on the healthcare system.
“Ongoing impact of both Covid and non-Covid related absence is causing significant challenges across the NHS and social care with significant staffing gaps in some service areas,” says the report.
“Lincolnshire has had, at times, the highest sickness rate in the Midlands,” it adds.
“The workforce is very fragile due to ongoing pressures, staff sickness levels are increasing significantly and some areas reliant on agency staffing.”
The total waiting list in August stood at 82,674 with 3.3 per cent waiting more than 52 weeks, which is below the national average of 6.7 per cent.
“We have recently launched a communications initiative aimed at supporting patients who are waiting for appointments at hospital to guide them to the most appropriate place for queries,” says the report.
Increased demand for services is also impacting on ambulance handovers which have increased ‘dramatically’.
The CCG is continuing to work with the service and the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust has established an Ambulance Handover Cell.
There is also a higher number of two-week wait suspected cancer referrals than pre-pandemic levels.
Additional clinics are being held in breast care to reduce a backlog and the gynaecological team has a new locum consultant.
