COLCHESTER Hospital’s boss says keeping promises to patients about waiting times is “very important” amid failures to hit its targets.
Figures reveal more than 62,000 people are now on the waiting list at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust hospitals including those in Colchester, Harwich and Clacton.
It means there has been an 11.4 per cent rise in people waiting, according to figures released by the NHS.
Within these statistics, 1,534 people have been waiting for more than a year for an appointment and 27 people had been waiting more than two years.
It comes as figures revealed serious delays in patients being seen to at Colchester Hospital.
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The hospital trust aims to ensure 95 per cent of inpatients spend a maximum of four hours from the moment they enter A&E to the point they are admitted, transferred or discharged.
Figures now show, however, 18.9 per cent of patients were left waiting for more than four hours in September.
Neill Moloney, the trust’s acting chief executive said: “Keeping our promises to patients and achieving all the national access standards in our hospitals is very important to us.
“It will be a challenging winter, but we have prepared plans to respond to the increase in demand that will help us to continue to provide safe and compassionate care for our patients in A&E and urgent treatment centres at Colchester, Clacton and Harwich.
“If anyone is seriously unwell and needs urgent or emergency care, they must come to hospital, but the best way our communities can support the NHS is to use services appropriately.
“If it’s not a medical emergency, call NHS 111 or go to 111.nhs.uk first.”
The most recent figures released from the Government show ESNEFT hospitals are hosting 76 Covid-19 patients at the moment, with ten on mechanical ventilation beds.
These figures will be updated again today with the latest numbers.
Adam Fox, leader of the Colchester Labour Group, says it is becoming a real concern and is calling for action to be taken to increase services.
“Waiting lists in Colchester are too long and getting longer,” he said.
“That’s not just a statistic – it’s local people living with real pain, and risk longer than they should.
“This includes people waiting for vital hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery.
“This isn’t just about Covid, key targets haven’t been met across the country for years.
“From waiting lists, to A&E, to getting an appointment with your local GP, for local people our health service is going backwards.”
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