By Vivienne Russell | 22 January 2015
The risk of an NHS crisis is mounting, with problems spreading from accident & emergency departments and starting to affect waiting times, operations and discharges, the King’s Fund warned today.
In its latest quarterly monitoring report, covering October to December last year, the health think-tank said hospitals were ‘stretched to the limit’ and struggling to cope.
It noted that 12.5% of inpatients waited more than 18 weeks for treatment in November, the highest level since this target was introduced in 2008. Meanwhile, the target for no more than 5% of outpatients waiting longer than 18 weeks was breached in November, the first time this goal has been missed since 2008.
In addition, delayed discharges increased by almost 20%, waiting times for cancer deteriorated and cancelled operations were up by a third.
John Appleby, chief economist at the King's Fund, said: 'While recent attention has focused on the problems faced by A&E units, performance against waiting time targets and other indicators has continued worsen.
‘Taken together, the findings from this quarter's report show that services are stretched to the limit. With financial problems also endemic among hospitals and staff morale a significant cause for concern, the situation is now critical.’
Hospital finances were also in a ‘parlous state’, the King’s Fund added. More than 60% of trusts are relying on financial support from the Department of Health, while some foundation trusts are planning to draw down reserves.
More than 40% of trust finance directors expect to reach year-end in deficit. However, the picture painted by commissioners was more positive, with more than 90% expecting to break even this year or report a surplus.
NHS finance directors surveyed by the King’s Fund identified staff morale as their chief concern, along with A&E waiting times.
Heather Strawbridge, chair of the NHS Confederation’s urgent and emergency care forum, said: ‘We are aware of the pressures on urgent and emergency care which are also being experienced across all parts of the NHS.
‘While debate often focuses on acute hospitals, we believe that a whole system approach is required. This should involve commissioners and providers of hospital, primary, community, ambulance, mental health and social care services to help the NHS meet the challenges it currently faces.’
