Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Elective Surgical Operations: Waiting Lists — [Esther McVey in the Chair]

20 April 2021 · 5 other contributors · 13,500 words

Opened by Peter Dowd Lab Bootle

Responding minister: Edward Argar

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Peter Dowd raised concerns about elective surgical operations: waiting lists — [esther mcvey in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Covid-19 has had a calamitous impact on patient access to surgical care according to the Royal College of Surgeons.
  • Peter Dowd expressed concern over the significant rise in waiting times, noting nearly 400,000 patients waiting over a year for treatment compared to 1,643 in February 2020.
  • The Government's target of 92% for treating patients within 18 weeks was not met, with only 64.5% achieving this in February, marking the lowest rate in five years.

Key requests to Government

The Government should urgently invest in increasing bed and critical care bed capacity across England; consolidate covid-light sites in every integrated care system region; widen adoption of the surgical hub model across all English regions for appropriate specialities; and support patients facing long waits for surgery. Additionally, there needs to be a comprehensive review of workforce-related issues such as numbers, pay, conditions at work.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Peter Dowd Lab Bootle

Covid-19 has had a 'calamitous impact' on patient access to surgical care, according to the Royal College of Surgeons. Peter Dowd is worried about the significant increase in waiting times, with nearly 400,000 patients waiting over a year for treatment compared to just 1,643 in February 2020. Only 64.5% of patients were treated within 18 weeks in February against the Government's target of 92%, which was last achieved five years ago. In Bootle's clinical commissioning group area, there are 1,374 people waiting a year or more to be seen, compared with eight in April last year.

Other contributors (5)
  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Jim Shannon expressed concern about the growing waiting lists for elective surgeries in Northern Ireland and across the UK, citing examples of a five-year-old child waiting over a year for tonsil surgery and a market trader unable to work due to knee issues. He mentioned that 4.7 million patients are waiting for hospital treatment in England as of February 2021, highlighting the urgent need for a strategy to address this backlog.

  • Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough

    Madders highlighted the significant rise in waiting lists over a decade before the pandemic, exacerbated by the reduction in referrals during it. He noted that 35% of people on waiting lists have been waiting longer than 18 weeks, up from 17% pre-pandemic. Madders also pointed out that there are now nearly 400,000 patients waiting more than a year for treatment, many in extreme distress and with reduced quality of life. He warned that if the NHS does not address the backlog quickly, it could face up to 9.7 million people on waiting lists by 2023-24.

  • Karin Smyth Lab Bristol South

    Asked if the Government is demonstrating planning efforts despite not ignoring the issue. The speaker praised the NHS for its innovation and flexibility during the pandemic, highlighting the importance of digital technology and primary care telephone consultations. She emphasized the need for clear conversations about the scale of the backlog with local people involved in decision-making processes. Karin Smyth also stressed the necessity for proper training and sensitivity when communicating with patients regarding their treatment needs.

  • Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham

    Paid tribute to NHS staff for their resilience during the pandemic, highlighted the 4.7 million people waiting for treatment with two thirds waiting over 18 weeks and almost 400,000 waiting more than a year. Emphasized issues such as cancer diagnoses, mental health waiting times worsening, workforce impact, and inequalities in accessing healthcare.

  • Rachael Maskell Lab Co-op York Central

    She thanked her colleague for opening the debate and praised NHS staff in York for their efforts during the pandemic. She highlighted that 1,974 covid-19-positive patients were treated at York Teaching Hospital, stressing the need for early discussions about hospital development over the next decade to meet population needs. Maskell called for transparency on spending with the independent sector during the pandemic and noted the constraints facing healthcare services in York, including rationing of care based on BMI and smoking status, which disproportionately affects socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. She also raised concerns about diagnostic testing delays and urged investment in research, training, and rehabilitation centres to address staffing shortages and facility needs.

Government Response

Edward Argar

It is a pleasure to serve under Ms McVey's chairmanship. The Minister congratulates the hon. Member for Bootle on securing the debate, acknowledging its importance. He pays tribute to NHS staff for their tireless efforts throughout the pandemic and reiterates the Government's commitment to protecting the NHS and saving lives. Despite temporary pauses in elective activity during the pandemic peak, 80% of elective treatments were recovered by December 2020. The Minister outlines £7 billion funding announced on 18 March as part of the spending review, with an additional £6.6 billion allocated to support recovery over six months. He highlights innovative approaches such as community diagnostic hubs and surgical hub models tested in London, which are showing promising results. On health inequalities, he states that accelerated restoration of elective services will play a key role in improving local health outcomes. The Minister also addresses specific concerns raised by the Royal College of Surgeons, including bed capacity, consolidation of covid-light sites, and support for patients facing long waits. He commits to increasing transparency regarding waiting times data, ensuring granular detail is provided.

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