[ 2011-07-06 ]

Mike Farrar, the head of the NHS Confederation warns waiting times 'might slip'

NHS chiefs warn of rising hospital waiting times
Financial problems in the NHS are likely to cause
a rise in waiting times in England, health chiefs
believe.

Mike Farrar, the head of the NHS Confederation,
said the difficulties could even lead to the
18-week limit for elective operations being
broken.

He made the warning after feedback from senior NHS
managers showed many feared it would get harder
for patients to access care in the next 12
months.

But ministers insisted waiting times would remain
low.

The NHS is currently meeting the 18-week standard
overall.

However, the national figure masks the fact that a
growing number of areas are experiencing
difficulties.

The latest monthly statistics revealed a third of
trusts were in breach of the limit for inpatients
- double the number from a year ago.

This research by the NHS Confederation showed many
health chiefs expected the situation to get
worse.

The group, which represents managers, polled
bosses working across the NHS in hospital, mental
health and ambulance trusts. Private firms running
dedicated NHS clinics were also quizzed.

'Very serious'

They received 287 responses - only a third of the
total they polled - but Mr Farrar said it still
provided clear evidence of the pressures the NHS
was under.

Nine in 10 described the financial situation as
very serious with nearly half of them saying it
was the worst they had ever seen.

While most felt this would not harm patient safety
or the quality of care over the next year, 53%
said patient access could get worse.

The NHS Confederation said this was because of
increased rationing of services - there have been
reports of restrictions being placed on everything
from fertility treatment to hip and knee
operations - and longer waiting times for
treatment.

Speaking ahead of the NHS Confederation's annual
conference which is starting in Manchester on
Wednesday, Mr Farrar admitted there was a danger
this could compromise the 18-week hospital waiting
time limit.

"I think there is a risk. That is clearly what
people are saying."

His warning comes just a month after David Cameron
made a personal pledge to keep waiting times below
18 weeks as part of his drive to allay fears over
the NHS reform programme.

Mr Farrar also called on politicians to stop
attacking managers and called for them to show
more "political courage" by supporting proposals
to close hospital units where it was shown to be
clinically necessary.

He said he had had experience of cases where MPs
said they agreed with plans in private, but then
opposed them in public.

"Managers need more support if we are going to
deal with the difficulties ahead," he added.

Shadow health secretary John Healey said: "This is
further evidence of widespread anxiety in the
health service, as financial pressures impact on
patient care and we start to see the NHS going
backwards again under the Tories."

But Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said waiting
times would continue to remain low and stable as
promised.

He added: "Ultimately, our modernisation plans
will safeguard the future of the NHS, improve care
for patients, drive up quality and support doctors
and nurses in providing the best possible care for
their patients."

Meanwhile, a senior government official has
attacked the government's overhaul of the NHS -
despite the concessions made last month to
water-down some of the proposals.

Sir Roger Boyle, the Department of Health's heart
tsar, said the "mega reorganisation" could lead to
people in the NHS taking their "eye off the ball"
and therefore risk destabilising the service
during the tough financial times.

Sir Roger said he was retiring soon partly because
of his objection to the changes.

"I feel in my bones that the current plans are not
correct."

Source - BBC

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