Oxford University Hospitals Trust has a waiting list of nearly 60,000 people

NHS England data shows 59,033 patients were waiting for non-urgent elective operations or treatment at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at the end of April – up from 57,466 in March, and 45,374 in April 2021.

Of those, 1,049 (two per cent ) had been waiting for longer than a year.

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The Society for Acute Medicine said the current picture across the NHS in England – where 6.5 million people are waiting to start treatment – is "unacceptable and unsustainable" for patients and staff.

Nearly 60,000 people are waiting for treatment. Picture: PA Media

The median waiting time from referral at an NHS Trust to treatment at Oxford University Hospitals Trust was 10 weeks at the end of April – up from nine weeks in March.

Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said the healthcare workforce and its capacity are currently the key issues facing the NHS, but that the latest figures show there is no easy solution.

He added: “The current experience for patients with long waits for both emergency and elective care is intolerable and this is causing significant morale injury to clinical and operational staff in NHS and social care who wish to provide high quality care for patients.

“The current situation is unacceptable and unsustainable for patients and staff.

"It is essential that the Government urgently commits itself to the long-term solutions.”

Patients face long waits for non-urgent treatment. Picture: PA Media

Separate figures show 1.5 million patients in England were waiting for a key diagnostic test in April – a fall from 1.6 million in March.

At Oxford University Hospitals Trust, 13,949 patients were waiting for one of 14 standard tests, such as an MRI scan, non-obstetric ultrasound or gastroscopy at this time.

Of them, 1,091 (eight per cent ) had been waiting for at least six weeks.

Other figures show cancer patients at Oxford University Hospitals Trust are not being seen quickly enough.

The NHS states 85 per cent  of cancer patients urgently referred by a GP should start treatment within 62 days.

But NHS England data shows just 51 per cent  of patients urgently referred by the NHS who received cancer treatment at Oxford University Hospitals Trust in April began treatment within two months of their referral.

File image of a nurse working in a ward. Picture: PA Media

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That was down from both 67 per cent in March, and 75 per cent  in April 2021 last year.

A spokesperson for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "During what has been a challenging time for the NHS, staff have worked hard and cared for patients needing critical care while continuing to see as many non-urgent patients as possible.

“Patients waiting for treatment will be prioritised based on clinical need and we continue to urge anyone who needs help to come forward to get the care they need.”

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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