NHS staff in Warrington are already responding to the national drive to reduce waiting lists that have built up as a result of Covid.

This is the view of Dr David Levy, regional medical director for the NHS, after the Government set out a blueprint to address backlogs with a massive expansion in capacity for tests, checks and treatments.

The recovery plan aims to eliminate waits of more than 18 months by April 2023 and waits in excess of 65 weeks by March 2024, while no-one will wait longer than two years for treatment by this July.

Some 95 per cent of patients needing a diagnostic test will receive it within six weeks by March 2025, and by March 2024, 75 per cent of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer will be diagnosed or cleared within 28 days.

The plan will focus on increasing capacity by working with the independent sector and creating more dedicated surgical and diagnostic hubs.

It comes as hundreds more patients were added to the waiting list for routine treatment at Warrington and Halton hospitals in December.

NHS England figures show 22,615 patients were waiting for non-urgent elective operations or treatment at the end of December – up from 22,106 the month before and 12 per cent more than a year earlier.

The median waiting time from referral to treatment was 12 weeks in December, compared to 10 weeks a year earlier.

Separate NHS figures show that at Warrington and Halton hospitals, 72 per cent of patients who received cancer treatment in December were seen within two months of an urgent referral – below the national target of 85 per cent.

Trusts must also tell at least 75 per cent of those urgently referred for a cancer check whether they have the disease within 28 days.

Warrington Hospital

Warrington Hospital

Figures show Warrington and Halton hospitals fell below the target, with 71 per cent of patients being told the outcome on time in December.

On the unveiling of the backlog blueprint, Dr Levy said: “We have some promising initiatives across the north west, with £210million investment in capital projects over the next three years which will have an impact.

“Our teams are doing all they can to increase capacity to treat more people than ever before.

“As we move out of the Omicron wave, NHS staff are applying the same determination we have displayed throughout the pandemic to address backlogs in routine care that have inevitably built up and to reduce long waits.

“That cannot happen overnight, but we are determined to make the best possible use of the additional investment and take the best from our pandemic response.

“This includes smarter use of digital care and flexible working between teams and trusts, while building additional diagnostic capacity that will help to accelerate progress.

“As we have always said throughout the pandemic, it is vitally important that anybody who has health needs continues to come forward so that staff can help you with the best options for your care.”

Health Secretary Sajid Javid urged people to come forward for NHS care as he set out the plan, stating: “Addressing long waits is critical to the recovery of elective care, and we will be actively offering longer waiting patients greater choice about their care to help bring these numbers down.”

He added: “I want these people to know that the NHS is open. I want them to come forward for the care they need.”