Data from NHS England, published in January, has revealed that more than 30,000 patients in Bath are currently waiting to start treatment.
Photo courtesy of the RUH
The statistics show that 10,695 people in the local area have been left waiting over 18 weeks after their referral to treatment, while around 1,200 have been waiting more than a year.
Nationally, the figures show that 6 million people are on NHS waiting lists, a number that has doubled since 2015.
Bath’s Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse, said: “These statistics show that 31,550 patients across Bath are being left to suffer.
“NHS waiting lists were already at crisis point before the pandemic and now they’re off the charts. After years of chronic underfunding, this Government has brought the NHS to breaking point and the public isn’t fooled: the Tory’s attempts to rehash old cancer targets, and pretend it’s all down to the pandemic, just won’t cut it.
“After years of driving our health and care services into the ground, the Conservatives need to act now or it will cost people’s lives.”
“Throughout the pandemic, our local residents have been responsible and played their part in protecting the NHS. Now they deserve better.
“At the very least the Government should start the process to help the thousands of people left stranded on huge waiting lists in Bath.”
Labour Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “People in Bath and across the West of England are being forced to wait months for treatment, often in pain and discomfort.
“Our amazing local doctors, nurses and other health care staff have worked heroically throughout the pandemic, and continue to do so, but they are being stretched like never before.
“The NHS went into the latest wave of Covid infections with the longest waiting list ever, understaffed and overstretched. It is clear that the longer we give the Tories, the longer patients will wait.”
Nationally, the standard of 92% of people being seen within 18 weeks of a referral has not been met since 2016.
An RUH spokesperson said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on waiting lists nationally, and the RUH is unfortunately no exception to that.
“We welcome the NHS and government elective recovery plan announced this week to improve waiting lists across the country.
“We apologise to anyone who is waiting for care, and we are committed to providing patients with their planned care and treatment as promptly as possible.”
