Hospital waits plummet for Telford patients
Telford residents will be relieved to hear that fewer patients are facing long waits for planned procedures and appointments at Shropshire’s acute hospitals. The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust has slashed its elective care waiting list by 20% in the last nine months, with no children or young people now waiting over a year for treatment.
The Trust, which manages both Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, is making significant strides in improving access to vital elective care. This positive progress means no child or young person is waiting over 52 weeks for planned treatment, and no patient is waiting in excess of 65 weeks. In a further boost, the number of patients waiting more than 52 weeks for elective treatment has plummeted by over 75%.
These improvements stem from the Trust’s concerted efforts to increase operations and outpatient appointments. New initiatives include a revised elective theatres timetable, more outpatient appointments scheduled further in advance, and the opening of the Planned Care Hub at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford. This dedicated hub for high-volume, low-complexity day case surgery has already treated more than 5,570 patients. Furthermore, the Trust has seen success with its inaugural High Intensity Theatre (HIT) list, with more planned, and has invested in new digital tools like the Dr Doctor patient engagement portal.
June saw a remarkable 1,606 elective procedures carried out, the highest monthly total since October 2017. Andrena Weston, Acting Divisional Director of Operations for Surgery, Anaesthetics, Cancer and Critical Care, praised the teams involved: “Thanks to the hard work and innovation of our fantastic teams, we’ve increased operations in our theatres and outpatient appointments. This includes scheduling patients further in advance, boosting theatre capacity for specialities like paediatrics, and conducting our first high-volume theatre list at Princess Royal, which saw 11 hernia cases in one day. It’s been a whole team effort.”
Consultant Surgeon Mr Joe McCloud, also Divisional Medical Director for Surgery, Anaesthetics, Cancer and Critical Care, added: “This is excellent news for our patients, as we know that earlier access to routine treatment leads to better recovery and improved health outcomes, helping them return to their daily lives swiftly.”
Ned Hobbs, Chief Operating Officer, acknowledged the ongoing challenge: “We remain humble and recognise there’s more to do to ensure all our patients receive timely elective care. However, we’re moving in the right direction towards our goal of delivering excellent care for everyone. We’re incredibly proud of our teams who have contributed to improving access to planned care, and we thank them for their hard work in reducing waiting times and enhancing patient experience.”
