One in five NHS hospitals keep missing all of their crucial waiting targets, investigation reveals

ONE in five NHS hospitals are continually missing all crucial waiting targets, an investigation reveals.

It shows 29 out of 157 trusts and boards failed to meet key time standards for A&E, cancer and routine operations throughout the past year.

Health bosses warn strectched services are already facing “significant strain” ahead of winter.

The damning performance figures obtained by the BBC include hospitals in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Separate analysis by the Royal College of Nursing shows rocketing number of patients are stuck on trolleys in corridors unable to get a bed.

There were 154,000 sick Brits waiting more than four hours for a ward place this summer – up from 65,000 in 2014.

And unions warn worse is to come as the weather gets colder.

Dame Donna Kinnair, acting head of the Royal College of Nursing, said hospitals were starting winter on the “back foot”.

She said: “This increased strain on the Health Service this summer will inevitably have a knock-on effect on services this winter.”

NHS rules state A&Es in England must treat 95 per cent of patients within four hours.

Cancer victims should start treatment within two months of an urgent referral, while routine operations should be carried out within 18 weeks.

Research shows 16 hospital trusts out of 131 in England – 12 per cent - missed all their targets in the past year.

In Northern Ireland, all five trusts failed to hit a key target in the past 12 months. In Wales, three out of 14 health boards missed all their targets, while in Scotland it was three out of 14.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: “Trusts feel that this coming winter is likely to be more challenging than the last.”

A spokesperson for NHS England said “significant” preparations had been made ahead of winter.

He said: “Despite being hit by a perfect storm of arctic conditions and flu last winter - followed by the hottest summer on record - the NHS continues to look after an increasing number of patients within the four hour target.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said hospitals in England have been given an extra £2 billion to improve performance and cut waiting times this year.

He said: “Hardworking NHS staff have seen nearly half a million more people within four hours over the last 12 months than compared to last year.

“Our historic long-term plan for the NHS, backed by an extra £20.5bn a year by 2023/24, will improve front-line services and put our health service on a sustainable footing for years to come.”

A&E medics claim thousands of hospital beds could be freed up this winter by changing where patients are admitted.

The Society for Acute Medicine called on the NHS to better use same-day emergency clinics.

It means patients suffering blood clots, seizures, cellulitis and anaemia could be treated in such clinics and then allowed to go home – instead of taking up much needed beds.

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