THE interim chief executive of the Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen says staff are doing all they can to work through its 12,500 patient-long treatment waiting list.
Figures show that in June, 12,592 patients were waiting for elective operations or treatment, up from 12,421 at the end of May.
This was also 54 per cent more than a year previously, and the highest figure for the month of June since comparable records began in 2011.
Stacey Keegan, interim chief executive at RJAH, said staff were working to tackle the backlog but expected the number of people waiting to remain high.
She said: “Our hospital remains extremely busy as we work to tackle our elective care backlog.
“Right across the country, this is a challenge and we expect our waiting lists to remain high, as referrals have started to increase again.
“We appreciate that many patients have been waiting a long time to receive the treatment they need.
“Please be assured that our staff are working extremely hard to work through our waiting lists and ensure patients are treated as quickly as possible.”
The NHS mandate that patients referred for non-urgent consultant-led elective care should start treatment within 18 weeks.
At RJAH, 5,276 patients listed for routine treatment at the end of June had been waiting this long – 42 per cent of all those on the list.
This was down from 5,284 (43 per cent) waiting at least 18 weeks at the end of May.
There were also 1,535 patients waiting at least a year for treatment in the most recent month’s data.
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England national medical director, said the health service is experiencing one of its busiest summers ever – dealing with record patient numbers, and delivering the biggest vaccine rollout in its history.
The Health Foundation said the latest data highlighted the difficult task the NHS faced in addressing the backlog of care while Covid-19 cases still remain high.
Tim Gardner, senior policy fellow at the charity, added: “The Government and NHS leaders now need to be clear and realistic with the public about how they intend to get the NHS back to full strength.
“There will need to be significant investment at the upcoming spending review if we are to see improvement on waiting lists and addressing the staff shortages which are holding back progress.”