NHS Still Missing Key Targets in England

It is all becoming a bit too familiar for us as we constantly hear reports about the NHS missing their targets in one way or another. Official figures from November 2015 have recently been released and it is very worrying indeed – with Ambulances, the 111 phone service and Cancer services all missing key targets. A&E departments’ performance were at their worst since record-keeping began in 2010.

NHS November Figures Released

The November figures released by NHS England showed:

  • Ambulances missed their target to answer 75% of the most serious 999 calls in eight minutes - the 6th month in a row it has not been achieved.
  • A&E units missed their four-hour target to see, treat or discharge A&E patients - the 14th time in 15 months performance has dropped below 95%.
  • At the end of the month, 1.6% of patients had been waiting more than 6 weeks for diagnostic tests - above the 1% target.
  • One of the key cancer targets - the 62-day target for treatment to start - was missed with 83.5% of patients seen in that timeframe, below the 85% target.
  • The NHS 111 phone service missed its target to answer 95% of calls within 60 seconds. 1 in 10 patients waited longer.

Effect on the Public

With the ever rising pressure on the NHS to meet their targets and deliver timely and appropriate treatment, there are huge margins for error. These mistakes can be detrimental and life changing. We put our complete faith in the doctors and nurses and, essentially, our lives are in their hands, so it is extremely concerning to see these key targets continue to be missed – especially as this has been a major issue for some years now, to see that not only has it not improved but, in fact, got worse.

Penny

Penny Horne, Specialist Clinical Negligence Solicitor of GMS LAW.

Call us today to speak to one of our Specialist Solicitors on 0800 0463 272 or e-mail us today at [email protected]

You can download the figures released by the NHS here - https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/08/Monthly-performance-statistics-summary-2015-November-V0.1.pdf